Egypt Reseals Gaza Border

[tekisui]

Egyptian security forces have blocked almost all illegal entry points along the border with Gaza to try to stem the flow of Palestinians wanting to leave. Riot police used water cannons against those still attempting to cross the border into Egypt, and announced it would be closed from 1500 (1300 GMT). Hundreds of thousands have surged into Egypt to buy supplies since militants blew holes in the border on Wednesday.

Israel has demanded Egypt take action, as it is worried about arms smuggling. Overnight on Thursday, the Israeli military carried out two airstrikes near the border killing four suspected Hamas militants.

The commander of the Islamist movement's military wing in Rafah, Mohammed Abu Harb, was killed along with another senior militant when Israeli missiles hit their jeep in the town, Palestinian medics said.

Another two other members of the group, which seized control of Gaza in June, were killed two hours earlier in an Israeli air strike on a truck in southern Rafah.

Israel has killed more than 40 Palestinians in Gaza during the past 10 days in addition to tightening its blockade of the coastal territory, which has been used by militants to fire rockets into the Jewish state.

The United Nations has calculated that as much as half of the 1.5 million population of the territory has crossed the border since Wednesday. On Thursday evening, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged the Egyptian government to secure its border with Gaza.

Arriving for talks in Colombia, Ms Rice said she understood Egypt's position was "difficult", but said: "It is an international border, it needs to be protected and I believe that the Egyptians understand the importance of doing that."

Later, Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki promised the border would "go back as normal".

"The current situation is only an exception and for temporary reasons," he said.

By Friday morning, Egyptian security forces began to stop Palestinians from entering Egypt, while at the same time allowing people back into Gaza.

more at link: http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=47793

[applegrove]

1. And Gazaians who need advanced medical care will die.

[annabanana]

2. ugly business. . . .n/t

[alarimer]

3. It is despicable what Israel is doing to these people

effectively starving them or worse.