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Rafah: Tens of thousands of Gazans poured into Egypt on Wednesday to stock up on goods in the face of an Israeli blockade, after militants blew up parts of the fence that marks the border.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said he had authorised the crossing of the Palestinians as long as they were unarmed. "I told [security forces] to allow them to buy their basic needs and go back to Gaza as long as they are not carrying arms or anything illegal," Mubarak told reporters in Cairo.
Egyptian officials told AFP they estimate the number of Gazans who crossed over at up to 60,000. Parts of the barrier separating Egypt and the Gaza Strip were knocked down by at least 15 explosions and flattened by a bulldozer, allowing people to leave the territory on which Israel imposed a complete blockade last Thursday.
US raises concern
The US expressed concern over Palestinians pouring into Egypt but said Washington wants both Israeli security concerns and Palestinian humanitarian needs to be met. Israel, which has long complained that Egypt is not doing enough to control the already porous border, called on it to do more. But Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas blamed Israel, calling the breakout an inevitable consequence of the blockade.
In New York, the UN Security Council resumed bargaining to try to agree a compromise statement that would press for an end to the Israeli lockdown of the Gaza Strip as well as to rocket firing into the state.
Your comments
Welcome Palestinian brothers, have a nice stay in Egypt. Israel is wrong about this blockade.
Hany
Cairo,Egypt
Posted: January 24, 2008, 09:06
The US created this desperate behaviour as a result of Bush's biased visit to Itsrael. This is a reaction to Palestinian dismissal. As all people need inclusion the Palestinian is relegated to second class citizen with no rights. Israel practices inverted apartheid.
Ogden
Arlington,United States
Posted: January 24, 2008, 06:40
All those Gaza terrorists need to do is to stop firing those kasam rockets on the Israeli civilian population.
Isaac
Brooklyn,USA
Posted: January 24, 2008, 05:54
Three cheers for the guys who blew the wall! Three more for Egyptian President Mubarak!
James
Murfreesboro, Tn,USA
Posted: January 24, 2008, 03:59
Thanks to Egypt for not taking an action.
Murad
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: January 24, 2008, 00:47
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