Gaza: Egypt closes the Rafah crossing indefinitely
Israel approves ceasefire in Gaza.
Hamas confirms
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04 September 2021 Hamas has launched more than a dozen fireballs in Israel, trying to increase the pressure to loosen the blockade of the territory and in recent weeks has also organized a series of violent demonstrations along the Israeli border to demand an end.
A blockade that is also implemented by the western neighbor of Gaza, namely Egypt.
A Hamas spokesperson said the people of Gaza were determined to "break the siege" and no longer accepted the "gradual easing" of the blockade by the two countries. Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade when Hamas took control of the territory in 2007, a year after winning the Palestinian elections. Israel says the blockade is necessary to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons into the territory. While critics say it severely restricts trade and travel in and out of Gaza.
The fight
Israel and Hamas have fought four wars since the Islamic group took power. The most recent lasted 11 days last May. Egypt has tried to broker a long-term ceasefire and Israel has agreed to allow Qatar to take back some cash aid for Gaza's impoverished families.
Tel Aviv began loosening the lockdown on Wednesday to allow traders and merchants to cross the border. But Gaza's economy is in tatters and Hamas has asked for more concessions. Protests over the past two weeks have often turned violent, with an Israeli sniper and three Palestinian protesters, including a Hamas militant, killed in the clashes.
For the radical Palestinian group, Israel's loosening of the blockade is inadequate and Hamas has promised to continue organizing demonstrations until the blockade is further relaxed. Israel, on the other hand, has asked Hamas to release two detained Israeli civilians and to return the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed in 2014.