Israel made a decision to open the main cargo crossing to the Gaza strip for the first time in several months out of humanitarian concerns. The Karni crossing has been closed on and off for security reasons but Palestinians normally import much of their food and export goods and produce through the opening. It's closing has had a significant economic impact on Gaza residents. Israel's newspaper, Haaretz quoted Israel's new defense minister as saying during a meeting with his army commanders, "Our war is against terror, not against the residents of the Strip." It also reported that just three weeks ago the Palestinian Authority thwarted a planned attack at the crossing.