Israel shuts Gaza border crossing following Palestinian rioting

Marcy Oster

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Israeli military closed a border crossing with Gaza following riots by Palestinian demonstrators there.

The protesters threw rocks at Israeli troops and rioted on Sunday afternoon at the Erez crossing, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told Israeli media, and the troops fired at the demonstrators’ legs to disperse the rioters.

Three Palestinians were injured, the Palestinian Maan news agency reported.

The demonstrators had marched to the border fence to protest Israel’s control of the Gaza crossings and call for the reconstruction of the coastal strip following Israel’s operation there this summer.

Rallies took place Sunday across Gaza calling for an immediate start to reconstruction.