Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel has reported an attempt by the Hamas regime to
take over a border crossing.

The Israel Army said Hamas has forced the closing of its only cargo
border terminal with Israel. The Army said Hamas pressured a Palestinian
contractor not to open the facility on March 4.

Officials said Israel has become the leading supplier to the Gaza Strip
amid a crackdown on smuggling by Egypt. They said the crackdown has blocked shipments of arms, fuel and construction material.

Israel had closed the Kerem Shalom terminal for a week in wake of a
rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Feb. 26. On March 4, Inbar said, 70
trucks had been waiting to enter Gaza from Kerem Shalom, which also links to the border with Egypt.

“The Palestinian contractor said he would not come to work,” military
spokesman Maj. Guy Inbar said.

The Gaza Strip side of the Israeli cargo terminal has come under the
control of the Palestinian Authority. Officials said Hamas has insisted on
taking control of the cargo crossing, through which 300 trucks per day enter the Gaza Strip.

“The crossing is currently not operating, as the Palestinian contractor
responsible for the Palestinian side decided not to open the crossing
today,” the Office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the
Territories said. “His decision stems from attempts by Hamas to replace the
current contractor with one of their choosing. Hamas has been actively
trying to push the Palestinian Authority out and take charge of the
management of Kerem Shalom so that they may collect revenue from goods that
enter Gaza.”

“These actions by Hamas endanger the current security arrangements and
threaten the operability of the crossing,” the coordinator’s office said.

  crackdown on smuggling by Egypt, Hamas blocks Israel supplies with takeover of Gaza border terminal, Kerem Shalom terminal, Maj. Guy Inbar