Israel closes all Gaza Strip crossings

JERUSALEM, July 4 (UPI) -- ll crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip have been closed in response to this week's rocket attack, Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak said.

Barak said after Thursday's rocket attack on Israel violated the region's precarious cease-fire, he ordered all Gaza crossings to be closed immediately, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The crossing closures came after more than 70 trucks delivered much-needed supplies to the region following the crossings' reopening on Wednesday.

Rocket and mortar attacks had closed the regional crossings for two days prior to the reopening, the Post said.

An unidentified defense official told the newspaper that closing the Gaza crossings was the best way to force Hamas to stop any attacks on Israel in the future.

"Hamas is desperate to have the crossings opened," the official told the Post. "This is the only way to pressure them to curb the other factions and prevent the rocket fire."

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