Gaza’s ruling Hamas terrorist organization is exploiting Israel’s policy of allowing Arabs from the Palestinian Authority to enter Israel from Gaza, IDF Maj.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai warns.
Mordechai, who is Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), said in a statement Tuesday, “Hamas is exploiting entries into Israel to recruit terrorists. This must end or we will be forced to revise our policies.”
The COGAT told the Al Quds newspaper, “Unless these actions end, we will be forced to take additional security measures.
“Our policies are devised to strengthen the economy and civil life in the Gaza Strip,” he said.
The crossings between Gaza and Israel saw an daily average of 1,000 human passages between the two sides at the Erez Crossing in 2015. In addition, 850 trucks filled with medical supplies , construction materials and other goods were delivered daily to Gaza last year.
“If these policies are misused by terrorists, we will be forced to revise them to maintain the security of the State of Israel and her citizens,” Mordechai warned.
The single land crossing from Gaza into Egypt, the Rafah Border Crossing is open only sporadically, and then only for a few hours or a few days at a time, with little prior warning.
There are three land crossings with Israel, including the Karni crossing, a conveyor belt for grains and similar goods.
The Erez crossing, used by international staff members, residents of the Palestinian Authority, (professional and non-professional employees, medical patients and family members) foreign aid workers, journalists, diplomats and others, is open from Sunday through Thursday, 8am to 4pm and Friday from 8am to 2pm. The Kerem Shalom crossing is open daily between morning and afternoon, depending on the number of trucks scheduled to make deliveries in Gaza.
