Israel today closed the vital Gaza-Egypt border crossing just days before completing its military pull-out from the coastal strip.
Palestinians derided the move as a unilateral Israeli action that blocks their main gateway to the outside world. But Israelis said its purpose was just the opposite: to give time to build a new terminal that will increase Palestinians' freedom of movement.
In violence near the border today, a 20-year-old man was shot dead by Israeli troops and a 14-year-old boy was wounded in the leg, doctors said.
The Israeli military said an army patrol in the area came under fire, then saw three people who had breached the security fence into the Israeli-controlled settlement bloc.
The troops fired at the infiltrators. Officials close to the negotiations said a breakthrough of sorts had emerged, that Israel for the first time has agreed in principle to allow foreign inspectors at the border to ensure security without Israeli interference.
Israel said the closure would allow a smooth withdrawal of its remaining troops in Gaza early next week, including those stationed on the volatile border area.
Israeli officials said it will take about six months to build a new terminal at the so-called Rafah crossing and arrange security details.
In the meantime, Palestinians will be able to travel to Egypt through Kerem Shalom, an alternate three-way border point, that will be ready in the middle of next week, an Israeli Ports Authority official said.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because an official statement has not been released. But the Palestinians said Israel unilaterally shutdown Rafah.
Cabinet minister Ghassan Khatib, who attended a late-night meeting with Israeli officials at a Jordanian Dead Sea resort, said Israel also refused to guarantee that Rafah - the main artery in and out of the Gaza Strip - would be reopened in six months.
"They want to get out of Rafah, but they don't want to leave us the freedom of movement," Khatib said, adding that Israeli officials said it would take at least a month to get Kerem Shalom ready for the movement of people.
At Kerem Shalom, Israel will oversee security and passage of people, a main concern for Gazans, who sometimes have to wait weeks and even months to travel abroad due to Israeli security restrictions.