JERUSALEM // Israel has reopened Palestinian crossing points from the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip following a three-day closure put in place after last week’s deadly Tel Aviv shooting. An army spokeswoman said on Monday that crossings were reopened overnight as planned, although “security checks are continuing” in Yatta, the West Bank village where the two Tel Aviv gunmen were from.
The village had been put on lockdown in the hours after Wednesday night’s attack that killed four Israelis and wounded five others.
Crossing points were shut on Friday morning, preventing Palestinians from entering Israel and annexed east Jerusalem.
However, thousands of Palestinians were allowed to cross on Friday to attend the Al Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem for the first prayers of Ramadan. The mosque is the third-holiest site in Islam.
The closure also coincided with the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which was celebrated on Sunday.
Israel regularly shuts crossing points during major Jewish holidays, when large numbers of Israelis congregate to pray or celebrate, presenting a potential target for Palestinian attacks.
Israel announced a range of measures following the Tel Aviv attack, in which two Palestinian cousins opened fire at a busy cafe.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu also announced the cancellation of tens of thousands of permits for Palestinians to enter Israel and east Jerusalem during Ramadan.
The moves drew international concern, with France strongly condemning the attack but also warning against further exacerbating tensions.
United Nations rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein’s office in a statement on Friday also condemned the attack but said the Israeli measures may amount to “collective punishment”.
The Tel Aviv attack was the deadliest in a wave of violence that began in October.
One of the gunmen was arrested, while the other was shot and underwent surgery.
The Israeli authorities have imposed a news blackout while the investigation continues.
Israel also extended the detention without trial of Palestinian clown Mohammad Abu Sakha for another six months. The Palestinian Circus School issued a statement on Monday saying, “Administrative detention order extended (for) another six months. Our hearts are heavy.”
Shin Bet, the Israeli internal security agency confirmed his detention had been extended to December. The agency alleges he is an active member of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which Israel regards as a terrorist group because it has an armed wing. .
Abu Sakha, 24, was arrested on December 14 in the occupied West Bank. and has been in administrative detention since January under the controversial measure permitting Israel to hold suspects without trial for periods of six months, renewable indefinitely.
Amnesty International has called for Abu Sakha’s release.
* Agence France-Presse