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A tanker truck rolls through the reopened crossing to Gaza
Photo: IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA / REUTERS
After a week of fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants, the border crossings to the Gaza Strip have reopened.
Israel closed the crossings last Monday after arresting a leader of Islamic Jihad, Bassem Saadi, in the West Bank - citing fears of attacks.
A ceasefire mediated by Egypt has been in effect since Sunday evening, and the opening of the border should enable normality again.
After assessing the security situation, the Erez border crossing and the Kerem Shalom goods crossing are open again, the Israeli Coordination Center for Activities in the Palestinian Territories (COGAT) said.
According to a spokeswoman, the first fuel tanks and humanitarian supplies crossed the border in the morning.
The power supply in the coastal area was reduced from twelve to four hours on Saturday due to a lack of fuel.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health then warned against stopping medical care.
After the arrest of the Islamist leader, rockets were again fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip, and the Israeli army also fired on targets in the coastal strip.
The Israeli military launched the "Dawn" military action on Friday with airstrikes against Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.
Two jihadist military chiefs were killed during the operation.
The group, which is closely linked to Israel's arch-enemy Iran, has been classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the US.
44 dead, 360 injured in the Gaza Strip
44 people have been killed and 360 injured in the Gaza Strip since Friday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced on Sunday evening.
According to the information, 15 children and 4 women were among the dead.
The Palestinians blamed Israel for it.
Israel's army, on the other hand, emphasized that misguided jihad rockets had claimed civilian lives in the Gaza Strip.
An Israeli army spokeswoman in Tel Aviv confirmed in the morning that no new rockets had been fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel since the ceasefire on Sunday evening.
The Israeli army did not attack any new targets in the coastal strip either.
Around two million inhabitants live under very poor conditions in the coastal strip on the Mediterranean Sea.
Hamas seized power by force in 2007.
Israel then tightened a blockade of the area, supported by Egypt.
Both countries justify the measure with security interests.
mrc/dpa