Palestinians storm Egyptian border near Rafah
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
- 23 December 2011: Attorney general drops case against Israeli participants in Freedom Flotilla
- 17 December 2011: Iceland formally recognises Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders
- 11 December 2011: Republican hopeful Gingrich fuels controversy over Palestinian 'invented people' remarks
- 2 November 2011: UNESCO votes in favor of Palestine membership
- 11 October 2011: Gilad Shalit to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners
The border between Egypt and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip has closed again after Palestinians attacked the border. The border opened again on Tuesday, but after Wednesday's events, was once again closed.
Egypt had opened the border to allow people stranded on either side to go across, and to allow Palestinians access to supplies and services such as health care. When Egypt restricted passage to only small groups of people, Palestinians began to grow restless.
There are reports of stones being thrown at Egyptian and Palestinian border guards. Three Palestinians are reported to be injured. To repel the riot, the Egyptians used water-canons to keep crowds at bay. The Egypt-Gaza border is now sealed again.
Hamas militants have previously forced open the Egyptian border in January to allow Palestinians to get essential supplies that have been cut off due to an Israeli blockade. Israel has since allowed supplies to flow into the Gaza Strip as per a ceasefire agreement.
Sources
- "Egypt closes Gaza border after clashes" — The Age, July 2, 2008
- "Egyptians use water cannons to repel Palestinians storming Rafah crossing" — The Canadian Press, July 2, 2008
- "Palestinians break through Rafah crossing at Egypt border" — Xinhua News Agency, July 2, 2008
- "Egypt opens Gaza's Rafah crossing" — BBC News Online, July 1, 2008
