Israeli Army Extends Closure of Gaza AirportIsraeli army on Wednesday announced to extend the closure of the Gaza international airport until Thursday, said an airport official.Israeli Aviation Authorities Tuesday ordered the shut of Gaza airport for one day, the third since the outbreak of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict on September 28. The Palestinian airport at Rafah in southern Gaza Strip was first closed on October 8, but reopened on October 19 following the Sharm el Sheikh summit in Egypt, at which Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak reached ceasefire understandings. Israel ordered a short shutdown of the airport on October 23 after the ceasefire understandings failed to act on the clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians, which have so far killed over 160 people, mostly Palestinians. The Gaza airport, which, also called Yasser Arafat International Airport, became operational in November 1998 as part of the implementation of signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinians in pursuit of a final peace settlement of their conflicts.The airport is controlled by Palestinians but Israel holds overall responsibility for security at the airport. Under peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians, Israel also controls Gaza's air space. |
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