Middle East: Israel reopened the main goods crossing into Gaza yesterday following warnings of a looming humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, but later closed it citing a security alert.
Six trucks carrying flour and sugar went through the Karni terminal, Palestinian officials said. The amounts were tiny compared with the needs of 1.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, they added.
Palestinians have reported shortages of bread and other staples in Gaza because of the closure of Karni, which handles most goods traffic with the Jewish state.
Moving a step closer to taking office, the Islamic militant group Hamas appointed loyalists to most positions in the new Palestinian cabinet.
The new Palestinian cabinet comprises 24 ministers, with 19 positions held by Hamas members with some independents and technocrats. One woman and one Christian were included.
As expected, Mahmoud al- Zahar, a leader in Gaza whom Israel has tried to assassinate, was made foreign minister.
Israel and the US have tried to isolate Hamas and the new government. The European Union said it did not want to go "soft on principles", but added it would leave the door open for Hamas to change its stance on Israel.
Hamas is sworn to Israel's destruction, a position it has maintained despite foreign pressure and threats to cut aid vital to keeping the Palestinian economy afloat.
Israel reopened Karni for limited shipments into Gaza after shutting it sporadically in the past two months because of intelligence warnings of impending militant attack. An Israeli army spokeswoman said the crossing was shut again because of a security alert.
Salim Abu Safiya, the Palestinian security chief for crossings into Gaza, said Karni was supposed to open again today, "but after what happened today I can't trust the Israeli promises any more".
A senior UN official on Sunday warned of a possible humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Illustrating tension in the area, militants demanding jobs fought gun battles with Palestinian security forces in parts of the strip in some of the worst internal fighting in months.
At least six people were wounded, police and witnesses said. - (Reuters)