Israel on Sunday stepped up efforts to prevent Israeli protesters from blocking the flow of aid into Gaza, two days after the United Nations’ highest court said it must allow more supplies to get into the enclave.
The Israeli military has declared the area around a border crossing into Gaza a closed military zone in a bid to stop the protests that have for several days impeded the movement of aid through the only open crossing between Israel and Gaza. The decision was made Saturday night, but only publicly announced Sunday afternoon.
Dozens of protesters had been blocking the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel since Wednesday, arguing that no humanitarian assistance should pass through into Gaza until Hamas releases all of the captives it is holding there.
The International Court of Justice in The Hague, making an interim ruling in a case in which Israel is being accused of genocide in Gaza, on Friday ordered the delivery of more humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and called for the release of hostages being held by armed groups in the enclave.
Before the military announced the closed zone, many protesters had walked through open fields to bypass police roadblocks, thwarting efforts by the Israeli authorities to stop them, according to footage posted online by a group behind the demonstrations. A few trucks managed to enter Gaza before the protesters arrived at the crossing, according to Israeli news media reports.
The military order is meant to bar access to all unauthorized people and will remain in force through Feb. 3.
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