Israel reopens Gaza crossing after weeklong closure

Gaza's only functioning commercial land crossing was opened by Israel Tuesday following a weeklong closure.

Kerem Abu Saalem was closed for eight days causing electricity shortages due to a shortage of fuel needed to operate Gaza's only functioning power plant, Mounir al-Ghalban from Gaza's border authority told the Turkish Anadolu news agency.

"Around 700 trucks full of goods, including construction materials and limited amounts of fuel, are set to enter the strip via Kerem Abu Saalem," said Ghalban.

The coastal enclave has seven border crossings of which six are controlled by Israel.

Head of the Presidential Coordinating Committee in Gaza Raoud Fatouh said 900 trucks would be allowed into the strip carrying commercial goods and humanitarian aid, and 218 trucks carrying construction material, reported Kuwait News Agency.

Gaza has been subjected to a crippling blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt since 2007.

The coastal enclave has seven border crossings of which six are controlled by Israel.

The last is the Rafah crossing with Egypt that has been closed almost permanently since October 2014, heavily restricting those who can enter or leave the Gaza Strip.

Egypt closed the border after relations soured between the Gazan and Egyptian leaderships after the overthrow of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and the ensuing crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood and its followers.

Egypt has linked instability in the Sinai peninsula to Gaza causing it to isolate the strip.

During this period it has shut down hundreds of smuggling tunnels that served as a lifeline for Gazans.