Israel closes Gaza crossing after attack
Wednesday, 25 Jun 2008 09:28
Israel has closed its border crossing with the Gaza Strip
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Israel has closed its border crossing with the Gaza Strip today in response to a Palestinian rocket attack.
A defence official claimed the move was in retaliation to the attack on Tuesday which breached an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire.
Israeli military liaison official Peter Lerner told the Reuters news agency that the border would be closed until further notice.
"Any reopening will be in accordance with security considerations," he said.
Militants fired several rockets into southern Israel yesterday, breaching the five-day Gaza truce.
They later claimed the action had been in retaliation to the Israeli army killing a Palestinian commander in the West Bank.
Elsewhere in Israel, prime minister Ehud Olmert today struck a deal with the country's Labour party to save his coalition government and prevent instant elections.
Labour leader Ehud Barak agreed not to support an opposition bill to dissolve parliament in exchange for Mr Olmert agreeing to hold elections for a new leader of his Kadima party in September.