The Sufa border crossing between the southern Gaza Strip and Israel was opened today, in an unexpected move that could signal an ease of the blockade that keeps construction materials used to fortify terrorist infrastructure out of Hamas’ hands.
Israel began an embargo on the Gaza Strip to prevent bomb- and rocket-making supplies from reaching terrorists while also mitigating Hamas’ ability to fortify smuggling tunnels with concrete and other construction materials. Hamas has been regularly launching rocket and mortar attacks on Israel for over five years, using tunnels into Egypt to smuggle Iran-made weapons into the Strip.
But, today Israel allowed 70,000 tons of construction material into Gaza through the Sufa border crossing after the United Nations had sought the products’ entrance for years.
The opening of the Sufa crossing for these goods provides the Palestinians with a choice to demonstrate how they will use the materials, and potentially provide Israel with enough confidence that the construction goods will be used for non-terrorist purposes.
Hamas-backed terrorists could choose to seize the construction material, fortify bunkers and smuggling tunnels, and therefore reinforce Israeli fears that an ease of the blockade will only enable more aggressive attacks on Israeli civilians.
Or, Palestinians in Gaza could use construction materials to build infrastructure — such as homes, a hospital, places of work — that could be used to bolster the economy, all the while infusing confidence and trust that an ease of the blockade will not bring a storm of rocket attacks on Israelis’ heads.
Israel is taking a risk by allowing 70,000 tons of construction material into the Gaza Strip, putting the lives of its citizens in danger if Hamas chooses to seize the material for terrorist purposes.
The Palestinians want open borders to help bolster their economy. With this unexpected gesture from Israel, the Palestinians now have a choice — will they build their infrastructure or use construction materials to support terrorism?
Israel made the first move, and now it’s up to the Palestinians.
