Israel has no intention of reopening its two crossings into Gaza after the war, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told reporters, in a statement that appeared to run contrary to the international desire to eventually unite the territory with Palestinian areas of the West Bank.

The crossing at Kerem Shalom is the major commercial passageway for goods to enter and exit Gaza and the one at Erez is for pedestrian passage.

At the press conference Cohen said he favored a plan now under serious discussion by which goods would enter and exit Gaza via a newly established sea route between the enclave and Cyprus.

There has long been an argument that Gaza would benefit from a sea route, rather than relying on costly land transportation of goods, but it has not been envisioned as a replacement for the Israeli crossings.

“Obviously there is a desire that has been expressed in the past and more recently including by many in the current Israeli government to permanently divide Gaza from the West Bank and from Israel,” Marmur said.

All three entities — PA governed territory in the West Bank, Gaza, and sovereign Israel —use the use the same monetary currency, have similar pricing structures and are part of the same customs envelope.

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