The Israeli authorities closed down all the commercial crossings between Israel and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Friday, the Palestinian side said.

Raed Fatouh, chief of goods coordination between Gaza and Israel, said in a statement that the Israeli authorities have informed the Palestinian side that it decided to shut down all the crossings on Friday.

"Israeli on Friday closed down the crossings of Nahal UZ, KeremShalom and Karni without explaining the reasons behind this comprehensive closure," said Fatouh.

On Thursday, Israel reopened Kerem Shalom crossing between southeast Gaza Strip and Israel to allow truckloads of Gaza flowers to be exported to Europe, said Fatouh, adding that cooking gas and industrial fuels were also allowed on Thursday into the Gaza Strip.

Israel has been imposing a blockade on the Gaza Strip for more than three years. Israel tightened the siege after Hamas seized control of the enclave in June 2007.

Meanwhile, Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses said that Israeli army vehicles rolled several hundred meters into east of al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip.

The witnesses said five Israeli army bulldozers backed by three armored vehicles drove about 350 meters into the area and razed agricultural lands east of the refugee camp.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2009)