Israel imposed sanctions on the Gaza Strip Monday over Hamas-backed arson terrorism and ongoing border riots, announcing the immediate closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing.
Kerem Shalom is Gaza's only cargo crossing. The coastal enclave has been under a maritime blockade since 2007, when Hamas ousted the Fatah government from Gaza in a military coup. Israel maintains that the blockade is vital to prevent Hamas from smuggling terrorists and weapons into Gaza.
Israeli officials stressed Monday that the measure excludes humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza.
Hamas has been orchestrating violent border demonstrations since March 30. The subsequent kite terrorism campaign was launched in late April and has so far sparked nearly 1,000 fires that have decimated over 8,000 acres of forest and agricultural land on the Israeli side of the border, causing millions of dollars in damage.
Speaking at a Likud faction meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the closure of Kerem Shalom after consultations with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot.
Netanyahu vowed to use a "heavy hand" against Hamas and said more steps would be taken. He did not elaborate.
"In light of escalating arson terrorism and other terrorist attempts by Hamas, which exploits and endangers the residents of the Gaza Strip, the prime minister and defense minister have accepted the chief of staff's recommendation to close the Kerem Shalom crossing," a statement by the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said.
"This measure excludes the delivery of humanitarian supplies, such as food and medicine, and cases evaluated on an individual basis by the Office of the Coordinator of Government Activities. Any and all other commercial activity in the crossing will cease."
Israel, the military said, "Wants and works to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza in many ways. This step has been ordered in light of the fact that Hamas exploits the residents of the Gaza Strip to launch incendiary kites and firebombs balloons at the Israeli communities near the border, thereby denying them their normal routine.
"If this phenomenon persists, these measures will continue and even intensify," the IDF warned.
Speaking at a Yisrael Beytenu faction meeting, Lieberman said, "Let me make it clear to Hamas leadership that we are not wary of escalation or a wide-scale conflict. We are not looking for military adventures but the way Hamas is behaving – it could end up paying a heavy price. Much heavier than in Operation Protective Edge [in 2014].
"We have no intention of living in a reality where our fields are being burned on a daily basis," he continued. "I have instructed the IDF and the coordinator of government activities in the territories to take several steps over the next few days. … We have a significant humanitarian aid package in place that could dramatically alleviate the situation [in Gaza]. We are willing to make humanitarian gestures, but only if they [Hamas] do the same, meaning resolve the issue of the captives."
Hamas is holding two Israelis captive, as well as the remains of two IDF soldiers killed in 2014.
Defense officials said Monday that closing Kerem Shalom, through which hundreds of trucks travel daily, seeks to send a message to Gaza's rulers, by which while Israel would prefer to avoid a military conflict it will not abide an escalation in Palestinian violence.
The officials explained that Israel hopes Hamas will take the hint and begin curbing border riots and kite terrorism, but warned that if it does not do so, Israel is likely to exacerbate its sanctions on Gaza.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad threatened retaliation over the move.
"Netanyahu's decision to aggravate the siege and prevent goods from entering Gaza is a crime against humanity. Israel will be held accountable for the consequences," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said Monday.
He further accused the international community of "remaining silent opposite the criminal siege suffocating Gaza" and urged "immediate international action" against Israel.
Islamic Jihad warned the Israeli sanctions were "a declaration of war" and would meet a forceful response.
"Tightening the siege will only exacerbate the conflict with Israel and it only proves the occupation's failure in dealing with the March of Return," the group said.
