During a protest organised to mark Workers’ Day in Gaza, the PGFTU also warned of a “humanitarian explosion” should the global community not put pressure on the Israeli occupation to lift the ten-year-old siege on the Palestinian territory.
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Despite the announcement, Ya’alon did not give an immediate timetable for the reopening of the Erez crossing, saying that this “will not happen tomorrow or the day after”.
A statement from the Israeli Tax Authority said sacks of ammonium chloride had been found at the border with Egypt hidden inside a 40-ton salt shipment headed for the blockaded Gaza Strip.
He added: “It is our interest that Gazans live in dignity”.
Israel imposed a tight air, sea and land blockade on Gaza in 2006 after Hamas won democratic elections and took control of the Strip.
He said that “at least half of what now goes via Kerem Shalom” would be redirected to Erez.
A Palestinian source claimed that Hamas began working on the tunnel two years ago and that this particular tunnel was far more advanced than previous tunnels they had dug or attempted to dig into Israeli territory.
The Erez border crossing was closed to the passage of goods in 2008 and now only serves pedestrians.
The Erez Crossing is located at the northern Gaza border and is used primarily to allow people enter and exit the strip.
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Israeli naval boats on Sunday attacked with gunfire Palestinian fishermen while they were sailing within six miles from the shore of Gaza, according to WAFA correspondent.
