Jerusalem — Israel has closed its only crossing for people with the Gaza Strip except for humanitarian cases after weekend border clashes, the latest tightening of its blockade on the Palestinian enclave despite truce efforts. The move could prevent Gazans from travelling via the crossing for this week’s Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which runs from Monday night until Thursday night, but Israeli officials did not say how long the closure, which took place on Sunday, would last. Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman said the closure was due to "violent incidents on the border last Friday". The Palestinian Authority civilian affairs office in the Gaza Strip also confirmed the closure except for medical cases and Palestinians seeking to cross back into the enclave. Border clashes on Friday saw two Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire. Israel’s army said firebombs and improvised explosive devices were hurled at the border fence, while a number of Palestinians briefly crossed int...
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