Israel closes route to Gaza after violence

Jerusalem : Israel closed a border crossing to the Gaza Strip except for humanitarian cases on Wednesday in response to violence a day earlier.

Israeli authorities said Palestinians have caused damage to Erez crossing while protesting the US' decision to cut aid to UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Efe news reported.

"Every day approximately 1,000 Gazans enter Israel through Erez Crossing to work, study, or pray. Yesterday (Tuesday), hundreds of Gazan rioters damaged this crossing, resulting in its closure for repairs," the Israeli Defence Forces said in a statement.

"Passage will be permitted for individually approved humanitarian cases," it added.

On Tuesday, Palestinian medical sources said at least three protesters were wounded by Israeli gunfire in Gaza.

The decision to cut UNRWA funding will affect services provided to nearly five million Palestinian refugees located in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem.