Israel Opens Main Border Crossing with Gaza

On Wednesday, August 15, Israel opened the main border crossing with Gaza, allowing trucks and tankers to bring essential goods and fuel into the enclave. At the same time, Israel's Defense Minister stated that Gaza 'could become Singapore.' According to reports from Israeli and Palestinian media, the crossing, known as Kerem Shalom by Jews and Kerem Abu Salem by Palestinians, began operations early Wednesday after being closed for a long time. Israel typically closes this crossing during crises to 'punish' Hamas, as it is a vital lifeline for providing basic needs to around two million residents of the besieged territory. Reports indicate that on the first day of the crossing's reopening, about 750 Israeli trucks and tankers delivered various food items, medicine, cement, other construction materials, and fuel to Gaza. All evidence suggests that the resumption of the crossing's operations is the first practical result of an unspoken ceasefire that has emerged recently between Israel and Hamas. In the past five months, a significant number of Palestinians participated in a protest action known as the 'March of Return' along the Gaza-Israel borders, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Israel's founding and the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem, which led to a severe Israeli response resulting in over 160 Palestinian deaths and around 17,000 injuries. The last month also saw several days filled with reciprocal attacks between Israel and Hamas, raising the possibility of a ground invasion by the Israeli army into Gaza. However, after the latest round of reciprocal attacks, which caused casualties and destruction in Gaza and significant damage to Israeli farms, a practical ceasefire has been in effect since last Thursday night. Egypt and the UN Secretary-General's special envoy apparently played a role in achieving the ceasefire between the parties. Following the opening of the border crossing, Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's Defense Minister, wrote a message to the people of Gaza on Wednesday, stating that the region 'could become Singapore.' He wrote in Arabic on his Facebook page, 'When the people of Israel are in peace and security, you will see much good...' Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesman for the UN relief agency, responded to the Defense Minister's remarks by saying, 'We do not want to become Singapore; we are content with having water and electricity.' Simultaneously, Israel expanded the fishing zone for Palestinians along the Mediterranean coast on Wednesday, but it remains unclear how much this will actually affect the income of these fishermen. In another gesture of 'goodwill,' Israel released tens of thousands of postal shipments that had been piled up in warehouses for eight years to reach the hands of Palestinians. Meanwhile, Israeli and Palestinian media report on behind-the-scenes efforts for an exchange between the Israeli government and Hamas, although neither side has officially confirmed such negotiations. Reports indicate that Israel wants to retrieve the bodies of several killed soldiers and two or three living citizens held captive by Hamas, while Hamas is demanding the release of some of its security prisoners from Israeli jails in return. Nevertheless, on one hand, hardliners in Israel are very dissatisfied that the army has not 'crushed' Hamas with extensive warfare, and on the other hand, some Palestinians express skepticism about the sustainability of the ceasefire.