Karni crossing closed following blast

IDF looking into loud explosion heard Tuesday evening at goods terminal in northern Gaza Strip, says blast may have come from underground tunnel; Palestinian source: Explosion caused by suicide bomber

Hanan Greenberg |Published: 02.21.06 , 23:55

A loud explosion was heard Tuesday evening at the Karni crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, and a light tremble was felt in the ground. There were no reports of injuries or damage in the incident.

Following the blast, the crossing was closed and security forces tried to locate the source of the explosion. Among other options, they were looking into the suspicion that the blast came from an underground "explosive" tunnel being dug in the area.

A Palestinian security official, however, told Ynet that the source of the blast was a suicide bombing carried out at the crossing. No Palestinian organization claimed responsibility for the blast or issued a statement on the matter.

The Karni crossing was closed during the month of January for about three weeks after the defense establishment received security warnings on a possibility of a terror attack to be executed through an underground tunnel dug on the Palestinian side.

The army conducted diggings in the area and instructed the Palestinians to dig on their side, but did not reach any findings that would testify to the existence of such a tunnel. The army thus decided to reopen the crossing at the beginning of the month.

While the crossing was closed, the defense establishment found a temporary solution – transferring humanitarian equipment to the Palestinians and agricultural products for sale through the Kerem Shalom crossing in the southern Gaza Strip. The plan was eventually thwarted, however, due to lack of cooperation on the part of the Palestinians, who insisted that Karni reopen.

Crossings targeted by terror organizations

IDF sources confirmed that the source of the blast and tremble felt Tuesday evening was apparently underground activity. The army will also check the ground, the sources said.

In the meantime, it is still unclear whether the crossing, operated by the Israel Airports Authority and guarded by IDF soldiers, will reopen Wednesday morning. The crossing usually opens every morning at 8:00 a.m. and closes at around 11:00 p.m.

In the past, terror organizations had taken advantage of the Gaza Strip crossings to carry out terror attacks. Such an attack was recently foiled at the Erez crossing.

A serious terror attack was carried out at the Karni crossing about a year ago. Six Israelis were killed in the attack, after a suicide bomber detonated himself.