Israel shuts down main crossing with Gaza after violence at border

Over the last week, dozens of Palestinians have streamed toward the fence separating Israel from Gaz

Palestinian patients carry their belongings on their way back to the Gaza Strip after receiving medical treatment in Israel, near the Erez crossing between Gaza and Israel Israel shut down the main personnel crossing between Israel and Gaza to thousands of Palestinian laborers on Tuesday, following a resurgence of violent protests at the Israeli border fence (Adel Hana/AP/PA)

Israel has barred entry to thousands of Palestinian labourers from the Gaza Strip following an eruption of violent protests that have escalated tensions along the volatile frontier.

The string of protests — disrupting weeks of calm at the separation fence — comes during a sensitive holiday season in Israel that began with the Jewish new year last week and continues through the Sukkot festival next week.