[1/4] A view shows an empty Palestinian passenger terminal as Israel bans Gaza workers in punitive measures over border protests, at the Erez crossing in northern Gaza Strip, September 20, 2023.
The move stops more than 18,000 Palestinians from crossing for work, depriving the blockaded territory's ailing economy of around $2 million a day, according to local economists.
On Tuesday, a Palestinian man was shot and killed by Israeli forces during the protests and 11 others were wounded, according to Gaza health officials.
A spokesperson for Cogat, the Israeli Defence Ministry agency that coordinates with the Palestinians, confirmed that the Erez crossing into Gaza was closed and said it would be re-opened "in accordance with situational assessments."
Over the past few weeks, the military said its soldiers had been using riot dispersal means against Palestinians throwing explosives at the border fence along the Gaza Strip.
Persons:
Abu Mustafa, Al, Ayman Abu Krayyem, ”, Nidal Almughrabi, William Maclean
Organizations:
REUTERS, Gaza, West Bank, Hamas, Cogat, Israeli Defence Ministry, World Bank, Gaza Ministry, Labour, Thomson
Locations:
Israel, Gaza, Al Aqsa, Palestinian, Egypt, Erez, Qatar