NEW DELHI: Israel has said that it is shutting the only two operational border crossings into Gaza -- the Kerem Shalom and Erez border crossings -- indefinitely. The news comes as Israel’s Iron Dome defense system detected a projectile fired from Gaza, which caused no damage, although it is not clear whether Israel’s decision is connected to the incident.

The border closures threaten to further devastate Gaza, still reeling from over 50 days of violence as Israeli forces pounded the strip. The three other crossings into Gaza, including the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border, remain closed.

It is not known when Israel plans to reopen the Kerem Shalom and Erez border crossings.

Meanwhile, conditions between Israelis and Palestinians in East Jerusalem remained tense, as a far right Israeli politician, Likud lawmaker Moshe Feiglin, visited the Al Aqsa compound, defying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's calls for restraint after clashes broke out between Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces.

Al Aqsa -- the third holiest place in Islam -- was briefly closed following unrest in East Jerusalem, which, in turn, was sparked by Netanyahu’s announcement that Israel will be fast-tracking plans to build 1060 new apartments in East Jerusalem.

The announcement on settlements was an attempt to address the right-wing lobby in Israel -- specifically the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria and the Jewish Home Party, that have been pushing Netanyahu to speed up construction in East Jerusalem. East Jerusalem was occupied and annexed in 1967 -- and thereby, outpost construction beyond the 1967 line by Israel is a bone of contention between Israelis and Palestinians and constitutes what most of the world considers illegal settlements.

The United States -- Israel’s strongest ally -- immediately condemned Netanyahu’s announcement, saying it was “deeply concerned.” “If Israel wants to live in a peaceful society, they need to take steps that will reduce tensions,” Jen Psaki, the State Department spokesperson said, adding, “Moving forward with this sort of action would be incompatible with the pursuit of peace.”

Palestinian officials reacted to the news with a warning that it could lead to unrest. “We believe such unilateral acts will lead to an explosion,” Jibril Rajoub, a senior figure in Fatah told reporters. “Mr. Netanyahu should not expect a white flag from the Palestinian people.”

A white flag was not waved, and rising tensions prompted Israeli security forces to close the Haram al-Sharif compound that houses the al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. The move was described by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as a "declaration of war." The mosque itself is a bone of contention between Israeli and Palestinians, with right-wing jews advocating that the mosque be destroyed and replaced with a temple.

The decision to shut down the mosque itself followed a failed assassination attempt on an Israel-American activist whose organization strives to "liberate" the holy site of al-Aqsa mosque from Islamic "occupation." Israeli security forces then shot and killed a Palestinian man they believed responsible, leading to protests and allegations of indiscriminate killing -- a rouse that the Palestinians have raised repeatedly.

The tension in the region comes on the heels of 50 days of violence that left over 2500 Palestinians dead. Even at the time, as a peace deal was signed between the Palestinians and Israelis, Israel followed it with an announcement that it will be appropriating 400 hectares of land in the occupied West Bank’s Etzion settlement bloc near Bethlehem, which anti-settlement proponents have termed the largest land grab in 30 years.

In fact, Israel’s settlement activities in the West Bank have been termed as an “obstacle to peace” by the US and the European Union, as its in contradiction with the objectives of a two nation solution where occupied West Bank territory is considered Palestinian land.

The issue of outpost construction was a major point of contention in the US brokered peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which eventually failed on account of the unity deal between Hamas and Fatah. In response to the unity deal, Israel had announced that it would approve plans to build 1500 settlement homes in the West Bank.

Reports show that the number of Israeli settlements being constructing in the West Bank more than doubled during 2013. Work began on 2,534 new housing units in 2013 compared to 1133 in the previous year.

Aid groups had pointed to an increase in demolitions and displacement of Palestinian officials since the renewed US-backed peace negotiations began compared with the same period in 2012. The number of demolitions increased by almost half and the displacement of Palestinians by nearly three quarters between July 2013 and the end of the year, said a statement released by 25 aid organisations working in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The aid groups said that of the 663 Palestinian structures torn down last year, the highest number in five years, 122 were built with international donor aid.

Israel had previously announced plans for 382 new homes in the West Bank, following the approval of plans for 272 new homes earlier in January 2014. The approval of plans for 1500 homes was a significant increase, and this announcement to build 1000 new settlements in East Jerusalem will further embitter relations.

In fact, Israel’s decision to close the border crossings into Gaza and increase outpost construction is reflective of the fact that the situation in the region will remain explosive, and that the 50 days of violence this summer has changed nothing.