Israel reopens crossings after ‘truce respect’

Israel on Sunday reopened border crossings to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip after closing them Thursday after a rocket was fired from the territory in defiance of a truce that has been in effect since June 19.

Israeli army spokesman Peter Lerner told AFP that the crossings had reopened and merchandise could cross over again, as could people who needed medical treatment in Israel.

The measure had been taken, he said, because no more truce violations had been signaled since Thursday.

The Israeli decision came after Hamas declared it was suspending indirect negotiations with the Jewish state over the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Egypt has been mediating with the two sides over the eventual release of Shalit, seized in a June 2006 cross-border raid by militants from Hamas and other Palestinian groups.

Several rockets and mortar rounds have been fired at Israel from Gaza since the truce between Israel and the territory's Hamas rulers went into effect.

The truce was supposed to lead to the easing of a crippling blockade Israel imposed more than a year ago when the Islamist movement seized power in Gaza, but the military said after last week's incident the crossings would be closed until at least Sunday.

Hamas insists that its own fighters are respecting the truce and has vowed to arrest anyone who violates it.