Israeli Strikes May Lead To Closure Of Rafah Crossing

The Palestinian border authority may have to shut the Rafah crossing on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip due to renewed Israeli airstrikes, an official said Wednesday.



"Activity was suspended in the crossing's outer hall due to Israeli strikes in the vicinity," Gaza Strip Border Authority Chairman Maher Abu Sabha told Anadolu Agency.



Eyewitnesses had told AA earlier that Israeli strikes had caused major damage to the border terminal's outer hall.



Abu Sabha said four people, including two children and a woman, had been injured by an Israeli strike while on their way to the crossing.



He added that the border authority would shut the crossing in the absence of guarantees of protection for those seeking passage.



Abu Sabha said the authority was in contact with Egyptian authorities and the International Committee of the Red Cross to update both on the latest developments and to request protection for those seeking to cross the border.



Israel resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday following the collapse of indirect ceasefire talks in Cairo.



Israeli strikes across the beleaguered strip have left at least 13 Palestinians, including four children, dead since.



The latest fatalities bring to 2030 the total number of Palestinians – the vast majority of them civilians – killed by Israel since hostilities began in the first week of July.



Since early August, Cairo has hosted indirect Palestinian-Israeli talks aimed at hammering out a permanent ceasefire arrangement.



By Ola Attalah



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Gazze