Fishing boats carrying Palestinians try to breach Israel's naval blockade on the sea of Gaza City, on July 10, 2018. Earlier Monday, Netanyahu announced that Israel decided to close Kerem Shalom commercial crossing point for export and import, and only allow the shipment of humanitarian aid and food to the coastal enclave. The Israeli government has also decided to reduce the allowed area for fishing into the sea of the Gaza Strip from nine miles to six miles, according to Israeli media. (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar)
GAZA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Monday slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who announced that his government decided to close the only commercial crossing between Israel and Gaza and ban export and import.
Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum said in an emailed press statement that "the Israeli occupation's decision is a new crime against humanity added to the black record of the occupation's crimes against our people in the Gaza Strip."
The international and regional silence for the crime of the suffocating siege imposed on Gaza since 2017 has encouraged the Israeli enemy to "carry on with its criminal measures that violate human rights and international laws," said Barhoum.
Earlier Monday, Netanyahu announced that Israel decided to close Kerem Shalom commercial crossing point for export and import, and only allow the shipment of humanitarian aid and food to the coastal enclave.
The Israeli government has also decided to reduce the allowed area for fishing into the sea of the Gaza Strip from nine miles to six miles, according to Israeli media.
The decision was an Israeli response to releasing incendiary kites and balloons from Gaza into Israel, which caused large fires and losses of millions of Israeli new shekels.
Releasing incendiary kites and balloons from Gaza into Israel was part of the rallies called by the Palestinians in Gaza as "the Great March of Return," which began on March 30 and left at least 137 Palestinians killed and around 15,000 wounded.
Barhoum said "Hamas calls on the international community to move immediately and prevent this crime and its dangerous consequences."
On Monday, the Popular Committee Against the Israeli Siege of Gaza warned Monday that the Israeli closure of the sole commercial crossing would double the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Jamal al-Khoudari, chairman of the pro-Hamas committee, said that "decision of the Israeli occupation to close Kerem Shalom is a new measure of tightening the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip for 12 years."
He warned that the decision "is unprecedented and will double the humanitarian suffering of the populations."
Meanwhile, Ra'ed Fattouh, member of the Palestinian liaison and the coordinator of the goods shipment at Kerem Shalom crossing point, said in a statement that the Israeli side had informed the liaison office of the closure of the commercial crossing.
"The Israeli side has officially informed us that the shipment of goods and all kinds of products are banned except food products, medical aid, wheat, livestock and fuel," said Fattouh, adding "import is completely banned until a further notice."
