Hamas has refused to guarantee security for the Kerem Shalom crossing, which Israel wants to use in order to supervise traffic into the Gaza area. Israel has objected to the use of the Rafiah crossing, which European Union (EU) monitors have abandoned following the Hamas military takeover of the region.
Arab terrorists shelled the Kerem Shalom crossing last week, forcing its closure, and Hamas rejected Egyptian mediation to persuade the group to cease attacks.