The Israeli military says it is shutting down its main cargo crossing into Gaza because of damage caused to it by Palestinian protesters.

The military says Saturday that the Kerem Shalom crossing will be closed until "extensive damage" is repaired. The military says on Friday that a group of Palestinians, as part of their weekly protests, burned a fuel complex and conveyor belt on their side of the crossing, causing more than $9 million in damages and disrupting the import of diesel fuel and building materials. It says the attack rendered the main fuel and gas lines unusable.

Palestinians in Gaza have been staging weekly protests at the border fence against a decade-old blockade of the territory.

Since March 30, 41 protesters have been killed and more than 1,800 wounded.