Israel’s defense minister says he’s closing the Erez crossing in northern Gaza today – except for humanitarian emergencies – in response to recent violence along the frontier.

On Friday, thousands of Gaza demonstrators took part in protests on the Gaza border in the shadow of reports of negotiations for a truce with Hamas. The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that two Palestinians were killed in clashes with the IDF and 270 were injured, dozens of whom were shot and others were inhaling tear gas. In the Be’eri area, which is a Gaza border community, two fires broke out as a result of firebombs.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)