Israeli army strikes Hamas tunnel in northern Gaza

GAZA CITY: Israeli forces struck a Hamas tunnel in northern Gaza Saturday, the army said, ahead of expected protests by Palestinians against the United States moving its embassy to Jerusalem.

Military spokesman Jonathan Conricus told journalists Israeli aircraft struck an attack tunnel approximately one kilometre long that had been dug for a "number of months."

He said the tunnel was dug by Gaza's Hamas.

More than a dozen strikes hit the target, Palestinian security sources said.

An army statement said the tunnel was being dug in the buffer zone close to Israeli territory.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

On Monday the United States is set to complete the controversial relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Palestinians also consider the eastern part of the holy city their capital and tens of thousands are expected to gather along the Gaza-Israel border to protest the move.

Separately Saturday the only goods crossing between Gaza and Israel was closed by the Israeli army until further notice, a day after Palestinian protesters ransacked it.

The Palestinian side of Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza was badly damaged by dozens of demonstrators late Friday during a day of protests along the border.

It is the only crossing open to transport goods into and out of Gaza, including fuel and food.

Hamas leaders have in recent days encouraged protesters to seek to breach the fence and enter Israel, despite risk of bloodshed.

Fifty-three Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since protests calling for Palestinians to be able to return to their historic homelands now inside Israel began on March 30. No Israelis have been hurt.