Israeli authorities on Tuesday decided to reopen the only trade crossing into the Gaza Strip, amid continued UN requests to alleviate the growing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip as a result of acute shortages in various foodstuffs.
The shortage followed Israeli closure of the Mintar (Karni) crossing east of the Strip for almost two months citing "security concerns." Mintar was the economic lifeline that provided an inlet for Palestinian imports and an outlet for exports.
"We will reopen Karni on a temporary basis to dozens of trucks carrying foodstuffs, particularly flour, but we will close it immediately in case of threat of a terrorist attack," an official in the Israeli prime minister's office said.
On Monday, the crossing was reopened for less than an hour.
