3 sept 2013
مطرود فلسطيني وعميل صهيوني – يعمل مستشارا في دولة خليجية متورط في أحداث سيناء
وتؤكد تقارير سابقة أن دحلان القيادي السابق في حركة فتح، والذي كان مسؤولاً أمنياً كبيراً في السلطة الفلسطينية هو الذي يقف وراء عدد من عمليات التخريب واستهداف الجيش والشرطة المصرية في سيناء بالقرب من قطاع غزة، وذلك بالتنسيق مع جهات داخل مصر، وبهدف التحريض على حركة حماس والتمهيد لتوجيه ضربة لها . البقية … أنقر هنا
“Expel Muhammad Dahlan From the Emirates!” is a campaign slogan launched by Emirates which has been widely spread across social networks such as Twitter, to express the rejection by a wide range of people of the presence of Mohammad Dahlan in Abu Dhabi, and his work as an adviser to the Emir Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. Dahlan is a traitor and dismissed leader from Fatah, founder of a death squad in the Gaza Strip which operated until 2006, and a spy for Israel.
The Emiratis say: “Dahlan betrayed the Palestinian cause and nation in favor of Israel, so how do the UAE authorities accept this Israel-first agent to stay on its territory?”.
They add: “The filth of Dahlan began to be apparent in the Emirates after he succeeded in influencing people in the UAE government with his misleading thoughts, what caused the UAE government to start supporting criminals and traitors from all Arab countries, people who kill their own nations in support to the zionist project, and giving them refuge in the Emirates.”
The Emiratis accuse Dahlan of financing terrorism in the Sinai within the framework of a plan which distorts Islam and helps create ill will and conflict between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, which is under Hamas rule, the enemies of Dahlan.
An earlier reports was released which states that Dahlan, the traitor, stands behind a number of terrorist and sabotage operations which have targeted the Egyptian army in the Sinai near the Gaza Strip, in coordination with the Egyptian police and in favour of Israel. Dahlan and his partners in the Egyptian police are planning to strike Gaza and crush Hamas so that ultimately Dahlan, Abbas, PA will be able to take control over the strip.
Egyptian forces have tightened the control of Rafah, a town that straddles the Egypt-Gaza border, as well as the waters at the border to prevent any transport of merchandise into Gaza by sea. They expelled dozens of families from their houses on the Egyptian side near the Rafah border in the context of the implementation of an empty zone along the border with Gaza. Egyptian official said that they had destroyed over 350 smuggling tunnels since the army had deposed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in early July of this year.
مطرود فلسطيني وعميل صهيوني – يعمل مستشارا في دولة خليجية متورط في أحداث سيناء
طالب المئات من المواطنين الإماراتيين سلطات بلادهم بطرد العميل الإسرائيلي الهارب من غزة والمطرود من حركة فتح محمد دحلان، مشيرين إلى أنه باع قضيته الاولى فلسطين لإسرائيل فكيف بالسلطات أن تقبل العميل الاول لإسرائيل على أراضيها، على حد وصفهم. وأطلق الناشطون على شبكة التواصل الاجتماعي “تويتر” حملة أطردوا دحلان من البلاد” مؤكدين أن ملامح قذارته بدأت تظهر على أبناء الشعب الاماراتي، من خلال تأثر العديد من العوام بأفكاره المضللة
وقال الناشطون أنه وبعد دخول دحلان للإمارات أصبحت توجهات الحكومة تدعم وتستقبل كل مجرم قاتل لشعبة, وتأيد المشروع الصهيوني وأهدافه ضد شعوب دول الشرق الأوسط
ودعا مراقبون شعب الامارات إلى تحمل المسؤولية التاريخية ورفض دخول وجوه المجرمين على أراضيهم فهؤلاء الذين يحضون بمكانه عند السلطات يبيعون أراضيهم ويقتلون أبناء شعوبهم
وتؤكد تقارير سابقة أن دحلان القيادي السابق في حركة فتح، والذي كان مسؤولاً أمنياً كبيراً في السلطة الفلسطينية هو الذي يقف وراء عدد من عمليات التخريب واستهداف الجيش والشرطة المصرية في سيناء بالقرب من قطاع غزة، وذلك بالتنسيق مع جهات داخل مصر، وبهدف التحريض على حركة حماس والتمهيد لتوجيه ضربة لها
وتؤكد تقارير سابقة أن دحلان القيادي السابق في حركة فتح، والذي كان مسؤولاً أمنياً كبيراً في السلطة الفلسطينية هو الذي يقف وراء عدد من عمليات التخريب واستهداف الجيش والشرطة المصرية في سيناء بالقرب من قطاع غزة، وذلك بالتنسيق مع جهات داخل مصر، وبهدف التحريض على حركة حماس والتمهيد لتوجيه ضربة لها . البقية … أنقر هنا
“Expel Muhammad Dahlan From the Emirates!” is a campaign slogan launched by Emirates which has been widely spread across social networks such as Twitter, to express the rejection by a wide range of people of the presence of Mohammad Dahlan in Abu Dhabi, and his work as an adviser to the Emir Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. Dahlan is a traitor and dismissed leader from Fatah, founder of a death squad in the Gaza Strip which operated until 2006, and a spy for Israel.
The Emiratis say: “Dahlan betrayed the Palestinian cause and nation in favor of Israel, so how do the UAE authorities accept this Israel-first agent to stay on its territory?”.
They add: “The filth of Dahlan began to be apparent in the Emirates after he succeeded in influencing people in the UAE government with his misleading thoughts, what caused the UAE government to start supporting criminals and traitors from all Arab countries, people who kill their own nations in support to the zionist project, and giving them refuge in the Emirates.”
The Emiratis accuse Dahlan of financing terrorism in the Sinai within the framework of a plan which distorts Islam and helps create ill will and conflict between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, which is under Hamas rule, the enemies of Dahlan.
An earlier reports was released which states that Dahlan, the traitor, stands behind a number of terrorist and sabotage operations which have targeted the Egyptian army in the Sinai near the Gaza Strip, in coordination with the Egyptian police and in favour of Israel. Dahlan and his partners in the Egyptian police are planning to strike Gaza and crush Hamas so that ultimately Dahlan, Abbas, PA will be able to take control over the strip.
Egyptian forces have tightened the control of Rafah, a town that straddles the Egypt-Gaza border, as well as the waters at the border to prevent any transport of merchandise into Gaza by sea. They expelled dozens of families from their houses on the Egyptian side near the Rafah border in the context of the implementation of an empty zone along the border with Gaza. Egyptian official said that they had destroyed over 350 smuggling tunnels since the army had deposed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in early July of this year.
مطرود فلسطيني وعميل صهيوني – يعمل مستشارا في دولة خليجية متورط في أحداث سيناء
طالب المئات من المواطنين الإماراتيين سلطات بلادهم بطرد العميل الإسرائيلي الهارب من غزة والمطرود من حركة فتح محمد دحلان، مشيرين إلى أنه باع قضيته الاولى فلسطين لإسرائيل فكيف بالسلطات أن تقبل العميل الاول لإسرائيل على أراضيها، على حد وصفهم. وأطلق الناشطون على شبكة التواصل الاجتماعي “تويتر” حملة أطردوا دحلان من البلاد” مؤكدين أن ملامح قذارته بدأت تظهر على أبناء الشعب الاماراتي، من خلال تأثر العديد من العوام بأفكاره المضللة
وقال الناشطون أنه وبعد دخول دحلان للإمارات أصبحت توجهات الحكومة تدعم وتستقبل كل مجرم قاتل لشعبة, وتأيد المشروع الصهيوني وأهدافه ضد شعوب دول الشرق الأوسط
ودعا مراقبون شعب الامارات إلى تحمل المسؤولية التاريخية ورفض دخول وجوه المجرمين على أراضيهم فهؤلاء الذين يحضون بمكانه عند السلطات يبيعون أراضيهم ويقتلون أبناء شعوبهم
وتؤكد تقارير سابقة أن دحلان القيادي السابق في حركة فتح، والذي كان مسؤولاً أمنياً كبيراً في السلطة الفلسطينية هو الذي يقف وراء عدد من عمليات التخريب واستهداف الجيش والشرطة المصرية في سيناء بالقرب من قطاع غزة، وذلك بالتنسيق مع جهات داخل مصر، وبهدف التحريض على حركة حماس والتمهيد لتوجيه ضربة لها
Egyptian political analyst Abdullah Al-Ashaal strongly denounced the war being waged by the current Egyptian regime against the Gaza Strip and Hamas and described it as a wrong policy and a serious crime against Egypt's national security. Ashaal, a professor of political science at Cairo university, accused, in a press statement to Quds Press, influential figures from the new regime in Egypt backed by persons working for the Mossad of mobilizing the Egyptian public opinion against Hamas and portraying it as a threat to Egypt's national security.
Ashaal also said that the Mossad and their collaborators are controlling some Egyptian media outlets directly or indirectly in order to demonize Hamas, but he expressed his belief that any battle against the Palestinians would be doomed to failure and would burn its initiators.
"Today, the [Egyptian] judiciary is holding trials against the Muslim Brotherhood leaders on charges of having relations with Hamas, and the army is fighting terrorist groups in the Sinai in coordination with Israel," he stated.
"Unfortunately, this situation affected the Gaza Strip, the tunnels and Rafah crossing and would tighten the noose further around the Palestinians in Gaza and Palestine, but all these battles are superficial and unable to change the place of the Palestinian cause in the memory of the Egyptian people, who believes that Palestine is part of Egypt's national security," the political analyst added.
He stressed that the vast majority of the Egyptian people believe that Israel is a usurping regime and Hamas is a resistance group defending the rights of its own people and has nothing to do with what is happening in Egypt.
Ashaal also said that the Mossad and their collaborators are controlling some Egyptian media outlets directly or indirectly in order to demonize Hamas, but he expressed his belief that any battle against the Palestinians would be doomed to failure and would burn its initiators.
"Today, the [Egyptian] judiciary is holding trials against the Muslim Brotherhood leaders on charges of having relations with Hamas, and the army is fighting terrorist groups in the Sinai in coordination with Israel," he stated.
"Unfortunately, this situation affected the Gaza Strip, the tunnels and Rafah crossing and would tighten the noose further around the Palestinians in Gaza and Palestine, but all these battles are superficial and unable to change the place of the Palestinian cause in the memory of the Egyptian people, who believes that Palestine is part of Egypt's national security," the political analyst added.
He stressed that the vast majority of the Egyptian people believe that Israel is a usurping regime and Hamas is a resistance group defending the rights of its own people and has nothing to do with what is happening in Egypt.
Extendsing its efforts to support the Egyptian coup which forced the legal Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi out last month, Israeli mass media broadcast on Monday morning the operetta "Blessed are the Hands" to hail the Egyptian military forces that carried out the coup in Egypt . Israel's Channel 2 TV broadcast the operetta after Egyptian military bulldozers razed residential houses in the Egyptian Rafah in an effort to create a 500-meter-long buffer zone with the Gaza Strip.
Observers say this act illustrates the extent to which the Israeli occupation is happy with what the Egyptian army is doing to deter the Muslim Brotherhood's power in Egypt, and to boost the Israeli siege that has been imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2006.
The buffer zone will further undermine the flow of goods and medicines to Gaza.
Observers say this act illustrates the extent to which the Israeli occupation is happy with what the Egyptian army is doing to deter the Muslim Brotherhood's power in Egypt, and to boost the Israeli siege that has been imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2006.
The buffer zone will further undermine the flow of goods and medicines to Gaza.
An Egyptian navy vessels attacked seven Palestinian fishermen who were simply working off the Rafah coast. Five fishermen were arrested, two were shot in the hands. Aditionally, the Egyptian perpetrators confiscated the Palestinian boats.
Ibrahim Abdullah al-Najjar, 19, and Ismail Wael al-Bardawil, 21, shot and then taken to Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah for treatment. Shooting fishermen in the hands is a tactic initially used by the Israeli Navy, because it prevents them from ever being able to return to work.
After the Egyptian army overthrew President Mohamed Morsi, Palestinians were warned that any person to cross in Egypts territorial waters will be arrested. Many fishermen are deep troubled Egypt’s move. It resembles the attacks on them by the Israeli navy, they said.
A spokesman for the Interior Ministry of the Palestinian government in Gaza, Ihab Ghussein, said that he has asked for a formal explanation from Egypt about the attack on the unarmed fishermen. Palestinian fishers in Gaza are being blockaded by both Israel and Egypt.
Ibrahim Abdullah al-Najjar, 19, and Ismail Wael al-Bardawil, 21, shot and then taken to Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah for treatment. Shooting fishermen in the hands is a tactic initially used by the Israeli Navy, because it prevents them from ever being able to return to work.
After the Egyptian army overthrew President Mohamed Morsi, Palestinians were warned that any person to cross in Egypts territorial waters will be arrested. Many fishermen are deep troubled Egypt’s move. It resembles the attacks on them by the Israeli navy, they said.
A spokesman for the Interior Ministry of the Palestinian government in Gaza, Ihab Ghussein, said that he has asked for a formal explanation from Egypt about the attack on the unarmed fishermen. Palestinian fishers in Gaza are being blockaded by both Israel and Egypt.
Egyptian security forces destroyed at least 20 houses along Gaza border. The army ordered people to evacuate their houses and then they knock them down, leaving residents to look for a place to stay, with relatives or friends. Residents on the Egyptian side of the border said that at least 20 homes had been torn down. Egyptian forces have tightened the control of Rafah, a town that straddles the Egypt-Gaza border, as well as the waters at the border to prevent any transport of merchandise into Gaza by sea.
They expelled dozens of families from their houses on the Egyptian side near the Rafah border in the context of the implementation of an empty zone along the border with Gaza. Egyptian official said that they had destroyed over 350 smuggling tunnels since the army had deposed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in early July of this year.
Hamas spokesman said: “We reject idea of buffer zone. Buffer zones should not be built between brothers”.
Egypt’s military stepped up a campaign against Islamist militants in the Sinai Peninsula, bordering Gaza, after deposing Islamist president Mohamed Morsi following mass unrest, and has accused Gaza Palestinians of supporting the militants
The crackdown, before and after Morsi’s ouster, has included closures of tunnels from Gaza the military believes have been used to move weapons, gunmen and goods across the border.
Now, residents on the Egyptian side of the border say, the armed forces have also begun to tear down homes, apparently suspecting they are being used to hide tunnel entrances or provide cover for other militant activity.
They expelled dozens of families from their houses on the Egyptian side near the Rafah border in the context of the implementation of an empty zone along the border with Gaza. Egyptian official said that they had destroyed over 350 smuggling tunnels since the army had deposed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in early July of this year.
Hamas spokesman said: “We reject idea of buffer zone. Buffer zones should not be built between brothers”.
Egypt’s military stepped up a campaign against Islamist militants in the Sinai Peninsula, bordering Gaza, after deposing Islamist president Mohamed Morsi following mass unrest, and has accused Gaza Palestinians of supporting the militants
The crackdown, before and after Morsi’s ouster, has included closures of tunnels from Gaza the military believes have been used to move weapons, gunmen and goods across the border.
Now, residents on the Egyptian side of the border say, the armed forces have also begun to tear down homes, apparently suspecting they are being used to hide tunnel entrances or provide cover for other militant activity.
2 sept 2013
Egyptian forces have demolished six tunnels and 20 homes near the Gaza border since Sunday, an Egyptian security official said Monday.
Egyptian forces used explosives to destroy four smuggling tunnels in the Sarsuriyya neighborhood on Sunday and two tunnels in Hilwat on Monday, the security official told Ma'an,
Twenty homes near the border have been destroyed, he added.
The official said Egyptian forces had destroyed over 350 smuggling tunnels since the army deposed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in early July.
Egyptian forces have tightened control of Rafah, a town that straddles the Egypt-Gaza border, as well as the waters by the border to prevent smuggling by sea.
Egypt's navy has deployed lightly-armed warships off the coast of the border and banned fishing near Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid.
A senior Egyptian military official said Sunday that Egypt plans to impose a 500-meter buffer zone along its border with the Gaza Strip.
Egyptian residents living in Saladin, al-Barahmeh, Canada, Brazil, al-Sarsouriya and other neighborhoods close to the Gaza border have received eviction notices.
Homeowners who received eviction orders demonstrated against the decision and burned tires in protest.
Army bulldozers have also uprooted trees in the border area.
Egyptian forces used explosives to destroy four smuggling tunnels in the Sarsuriyya neighborhood on Sunday and two tunnels in Hilwat on Monday, the security official told Ma'an,
Twenty homes near the border have been destroyed, he added.
The official said Egyptian forces had destroyed over 350 smuggling tunnels since the army deposed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in early July.
Egyptian forces have tightened control of Rafah, a town that straddles the Egypt-Gaza border, as well as the waters by the border to prevent smuggling by sea.
Egypt's navy has deployed lightly-armed warships off the coast of the border and banned fishing near Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid.
A senior Egyptian military official said Sunday that Egypt plans to impose a 500-meter buffer zone along its border with the Gaza Strip.
Egyptian residents living in Saladin, al-Barahmeh, Canada, Brazil, al-Sarsouriya and other neighborhoods close to the Gaza border have received eviction notices.
Homeowners who received eviction orders demonstrated against the decision and burned tires in protest.
Army bulldozers have also uprooted trees in the border area.
Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri has denied Egyptian interior ministry’s allegation that the Egyptian navy had destroyed six gunboats belonging to the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, while attempting to infiltrate Egyptian territorial waters. Abu Zuhri said in a press release on Monday that the allegation was “ridiculous” and completely baseless.
He urged rational people in Egypt to re-evaluate their position vis-à-vis such a “farce” that has gone too far in inciting against the Palestinian people based on a streak of lies in which, regrettably, official circles were now involved.
In a similar statement, Abu Zuhri blasted PA chief Mahmoud Abbas for involvement in that wave of incitement against Hamas and Gaza.
He said that Abbas’s inappropriate statement that Hamas sent 40 of its fighters to Egypt was a “sheer lie” unbecoming of a man claiming to be the president of the Palestinian people.
The spokesman also blasted Abbas for boasting a meeting between representatives of his Fatah faction and Israelis under the slogan “we want to win the Israelis to our side”.
He described such an act and statement as a political and national degradation.
He urged rational people in Egypt to re-evaluate their position vis-à-vis such a “farce” that has gone too far in inciting against the Palestinian people based on a streak of lies in which, regrettably, official circles were now involved.
In a similar statement, Abu Zuhri blasted PA chief Mahmoud Abbas for involvement in that wave of incitement against Hamas and Gaza.
He said that Abbas’s inappropriate statement that Hamas sent 40 of its fighters to Egypt was a “sheer lie” unbecoming of a man claiming to be the president of the Palestinian people.
The spokesman also blasted Abbas for boasting a meeting between representatives of his Fatah faction and Israelis under the slogan “we want to win the Israelis to our side”.
He described such an act and statement as a political and national degradation.
The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) has called on the Egyptian authorities to stop its campaign of demolishing the border tunnels which are used to bring vital supplies into the besieged Gaza Strip. Dr. Ahmed Bahar, first deputy chairman of the PLC, said in a press conference held on Monday morning at the Rafah crossing, that these tunnels constituted the life line for the besieged strip since 2007.
These tunnels are an exceptional solution till the opening of the Rafah crossing permanently for individuals and goods, he said, calling on Egyptian authorities not to take part in the Israeli and American plans to starve the children of Gaza.
Bahr expressed deep concern over the Egyptian campaign to destroy all the tunnels, the arrest of a group of Gaza's fishermen and the closure of Rafah crossing by Egyptian authority as part of its collective punishment that violates international law.
He called on Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing permanently.
He stressed the need to release the five arrested fishermen who were detained on Friday by Egyptian Navy, denouncing targeting their fishing boats by Egyptian fire.
He stressed the historical and social relations shared between the neighboring countries, denouncing all suspicious attempts to drive a wedge between Gaza and Egypt.
We confirm our keenness to maintain security in Egypt. The Egyptian security is an integral part of Palestinian national security, he said, calling to stop the suspicious media incitement against Gaza and the resistance.
He praised the Egyptian support for the Palestinian cause during past decades, saying that Palestinians and the Egyptians are united against the enemies' schemes.
These tunnels are an exceptional solution till the opening of the Rafah crossing permanently for individuals and goods, he said, calling on Egyptian authorities not to take part in the Israeli and American plans to starve the children of Gaza.
Bahr expressed deep concern over the Egyptian campaign to destroy all the tunnels, the arrest of a group of Gaza's fishermen and the closure of Rafah crossing by Egyptian authority as part of its collective punishment that violates international law.
He called on Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing permanently.
He stressed the need to release the five arrested fishermen who were detained on Friday by Egyptian Navy, denouncing targeting their fishing boats by Egyptian fire.
He stressed the historical and social relations shared between the neighboring countries, denouncing all suspicious attempts to drive a wedge between Gaza and Egypt.
We confirm our keenness to maintain security in Egypt. The Egyptian security is an integral part of Palestinian national security, he said, calling to stop the suspicious media incitement against Gaza and the resistance.
He praised the Egyptian support for the Palestinian cause during past decades, saying that Palestinians and the Egyptians are united against the enemies' schemes.
Egypt's military authorities have bulldozed Egyptian homes along the Gaza Strip border in order to destroy the tunnels linking Egyptian Rafah to the Strip, despite the fact that those tunnels serve as a life line for the besieged strip. Hundreds of tunnels have been dug under the Egyptian-Palestinian borders since the unjust Israeli siege imposed on the strip in 2007, where more than 20 thousand Palestinians work to bring vital supplies into the besieged Gaza Strip.
The tunnels had helped over the past years the Gaza population to survive the difficult humanitarian situation, especially during the two Israeli wars.
It is worth mentioning that the Egyptian military authorities have launched a campaign to destroy tunnels linking between the Egyptian and Palestinian Rafah.
A state of tension has prevailed in the Egyptian Rafah where hundreds of Egyptian residents took to the streets to protest against destroying their homes by Egyptian army.
The residents have expressed their anger over the demolition of their houses especially that they were not allowed to take their belongings out.
The Egyptian army has notified many families living close to the border with the Gaza Strip of its intention to demolish their homes.
The military aimed to create a building-free zone with no trees 600 meters (1,640 feet) wide and 14 kilometers long starting at the Rafah border crossing and ending at the Mediterranean Sea.
A big difference has been noticed after Egypt's military coup, since early July, in dealing with residents along the Egyptian-Palestinian borders.
A free trade zone was planned to be established on the Egyptian - Palestinian border, during Morsi's rule, aiming to end the tunnel trade which amounted to nearly one billion dollars per year to Egypt.
The Gaza government rejected the Egyptian intention to create a buffer zone along the border with the Gaza Strip.
Ehab Ghussain, spokesman for the government, said that there should be no buffer zones “between brothers and friendly countries.”
Ghussain expressed hope that the Egyptian move would not “reinforce the blockade” and increase the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip, calling for establishing a free trade area instead of a buffer zone.
For his part, Maher Al-Tabbaa, a Gaza-based economist, warned of demolishing the tunnels without establishing a free trade zone, saying that it would cause an economic, social, and humanitarian crisis in the besieged strip.
Nearly 90% of the smuggling tunnels along the border with the Gaza Strip have stopped functioning as a result of Egypt’s security measures, he pointed.
Demolishing the tunnels without an alternative solution would tighten the Israeli siege imposed since 2007, he added.
The tunnels had helped over the past years the Gaza population to survive the difficult humanitarian situation, especially during the two Israeli wars.
It is worth mentioning that the Egyptian military authorities have launched a campaign to destroy tunnels linking between the Egyptian and Palestinian Rafah.
A state of tension has prevailed in the Egyptian Rafah where hundreds of Egyptian residents took to the streets to protest against destroying their homes by Egyptian army.
The residents have expressed their anger over the demolition of their houses especially that they were not allowed to take their belongings out.
The Egyptian army has notified many families living close to the border with the Gaza Strip of its intention to demolish their homes.
The military aimed to create a building-free zone with no trees 600 meters (1,640 feet) wide and 14 kilometers long starting at the Rafah border crossing and ending at the Mediterranean Sea.
A big difference has been noticed after Egypt's military coup, since early July, in dealing with residents along the Egyptian-Palestinian borders.
A free trade zone was planned to be established on the Egyptian - Palestinian border, during Morsi's rule, aiming to end the tunnel trade which amounted to nearly one billion dollars per year to Egypt.
The Gaza government rejected the Egyptian intention to create a buffer zone along the border with the Gaza Strip.
Ehab Ghussain, spokesman for the government, said that there should be no buffer zones “between brothers and friendly countries.”
Ghussain expressed hope that the Egyptian move would not “reinforce the blockade” and increase the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip, calling for establishing a free trade area instead of a buffer zone.
For his part, Maher Al-Tabbaa, a Gaza-based economist, warned of demolishing the tunnels without establishing a free trade zone, saying that it would cause an economic, social, and humanitarian crisis in the besieged strip.
Nearly 90% of the smuggling tunnels along the border with the Gaza Strip have stopped functioning as a result of Egypt’s security measures, he pointed.
Demolishing the tunnels without an alternative solution would tighten the Israeli siege imposed since 2007, he added.
Dr. Seifuddin Abdulfattah, a political science professor at Cairo University, has ruled out the possibility that Egyptian defense minister Abdulfattah Al-Sisi would attack Gaza. He told the PIC that Sisi would not get involved in an open and direct war with Gaza, adding that he does not have the ability to do so.
He said, however, that Sisi could provoke the Palestinian resistance factions on the border to drag them into direct military action.
The professor advised the Palestinian resistance factions not to be lured into retaliating to Sisi’s provocations.
Abdulfattah said that the Egyptian army’s demolition streak of houses in Egyptian border city of Rafah, evacuation of homes and expelling inhabitants from them would only increase the tension in the Sinai Peninsula.
He said, however, that Sisi could provoke the Palestinian resistance factions on the border to drag them into direct military action.
The professor advised the Palestinian resistance factions not to be lured into retaliating to Sisi’s provocations.
Abdulfattah said that the Egyptian army’s demolition streak of houses in Egyptian border city of Rafah, evacuation of homes and expelling inhabitants from them would only increase the tension in the Sinai Peninsula.
The Hamas government said Sunday it was "surprised" to hear that Egypt is planning to create a buffer zone along the border with the Gaza Strip.
Ehab Ghissin, spokesman for the Hamas government, said that there should be no buffer zones "between brothers and friendly countries."
Ghissin expressed hope that the Egyptian move would not "solidify the blockade" and increase the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip.
He called for establishing a free trade area instead of a buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Egyptian newspapers quoted Palestinian sources as saying that 90 percent of the smuggling tunnels along the border with the Gaza Strip have stopped functioning as a result of Egypt's security measures.
The sources said that the Egyptian army was waging an "unprecedented" campaign to destroy houses and tunnels.
According to the sources, the planned buffer zone would be between 25 and 500 meters wide and 10 kilometers long.
Meanwhile, dozens of Egyptian families demonstrated on the Egyptian side of the border in protest against the demolition of their homes by the army.
The protesters said that the Egyptian army has notified many families living close to the border with the Gaza Strip of its intention to demolish their homes as part of its effort to create a buffer zone in the area.
The families said that in the past few days the Egyptian army destroyed several houses without allowing them time to remove their furniture and personal belongings.
The Egyptian authorities have also banned Palestinian fishermen from entering Egypt's territorial waters near the Egyptian town of Rafah.
Last weekend, Egyptian naval troops opened fire at a fishermen's boat near Rafah, injuring six people. The Hamas government has demanded clarifications from the Egyptians over the incident.
This article was originally published at The Jerusalem Post
Ehab Ghissin, spokesman for the Hamas government, said that there should be no buffer zones "between brothers and friendly countries."
Ghissin expressed hope that the Egyptian move would not "solidify the blockade" and increase the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip.
He called for establishing a free trade area instead of a buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Egyptian newspapers quoted Palestinian sources as saying that 90 percent of the smuggling tunnels along the border with the Gaza Strip have stopped functioning as a result of Egypt's security measures.
The sources said that the Egyptian army was waging an "unprecedented" campaign to destroy houses and tunnels.
According to the sources, the planned buffer zone would be between 25 and 500 meters wide and 10 kilometers long.
Meanwhile, dozens of Egyptian families demonstrated on the Egyptian side of the border in protest against the demolition of their homes by the army.
The protesters said that the Egyptian army has notified many families living close to the border with the Gaza Strip of its intention to demolish their homes as part of its effort to create a buffer zone in the area.
The families said that in the past few days the Egyptian army destroyed several houses without allowing them time to remove their furniture and personal belongings.
The Egyptian authorities have also banned Palestinian fishermen from entering Egypt's territorial waters near the Egyptian town of Rafah.
Last weekend, Egyptian naval troops opened fire at a fishermen's boat near Rafah, injuring six people. The Hamas government has demanded clarifications from the Egyptians over the incident.
This article was originally published at The Jerusalem Post
1 sept 2013
A Palestinian girl waits to cross into Egypt from the Gaza Strip, at the Rafah crossing, on 24 August 2013
The Egyptian army began demolishing homes along the country’s border with the Gaza Strip today, an Israeli-style tactic carried out under the pretext of creating a “buffer zone” to “reduce weapons smuggling and illegal crossings by militants.”
In fact, Egypt is tightening its side of the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, deepening the economic and medical crisis faced by the territory’s almost 1.7 million Palestinian residents.
The dramatic effects of the tightening siege are revealed in the July monthly humanitarian report, [PDF] published on 23 August by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Meanwhile, the UN reports that Israel more doubled its number of violent attacks on Gaza fishermen in the first half of this year.
Cut off
Since the military coup that overthrew Egypt’s elected president Muhammad Morsi on 3 July, Egyptian authorities have kept the Rafah border crossing with Gaza closed for prolonged periods or operating far below normal levels.
“The average number of people passing per day in July was 540, less than 30 per cent of the approximately 1,860 who crossed daily in June,” OCHA notes.
“The crossing remains the primary exit and entry point to the Gaza Strip for Palestinians, due to the long-standing restrictions imposed by Israel on pedestrian movement via the Erez Crossing.”
Egypt has justified its restrictions often based on fabricated and baseless allegations demonizing Palestinians and claiming that Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza are engaged in hostilities against Egypt.
Medical patients badly affected
With the border so restricted, the effect on people traveling for medical care has been severe.
The Palestinian Authority health ministry routinely refers patients in Gaza for treatment at hospitals in Egypt or Israel – services for which it must pay – due to the inadequacy of health services in the occupied territory.
In July, however, “a total of 131 patients, of whom 22 were children up to 17 years old, were referred by the [health ministry] to Egypt, less than half the usual number,” OCHA reported.
But there were “no compensatory increases” in “referrals through Erez checkpoint to the West Bank and Israel, or to non-Ministry facilities within Gaza in July, suggesting that patients chose to delay medical treatment, rather than seek to obtain a permit to exit through Erez to alternative hospitals.”
Obtaining permission to travel through the Erez crossing into present-day Israel remains onerous and harrowing for Palestinians and, as OCHA states, “Patients aged 18-40 years, especially males, are most often required to submit to Israeli security interviews as part of the application process for permits to exit via Erez. Companions must also apply for permits, and may likewise be called for interviews.”
Israel has often attempted to blackmail Palestinian patients into becoming informers for its secret services in exchange for permission to receive life-saving medical care.
Along with medical patients, thousands of students and other travelers have faced long delays, or have been unable to travel at all.
Essential medicine supplies hit “zero” Since the coup in Egypt, OCHA reports, “the Ministry of Health in Gaza began restricting X-rays and limiting certain drugs to emergency use only, due to low supplies and the unreliable flow of medical supplies via the Rafah Crossing.”
At the end of July, “27 per cent (128 items) of essential medicines were at zero stock in the Central Drug Store in Gaza and 16 per cent (78 items) were at low stock (between 1-3 months’ supply).”
OCHA adds:
Twenty-five per cent of [Gaza’s] drug supplies are normally received from, or through, Egypt via this crossing. Two principal Egyptian donors, the Arab Physicians Union and the Physicians Syndicate, are expected to halt donations to Gaza in view of current urgent needs in Egypt. These groups have played a crucial role as a source for rapid supply of critical items, such as dialysis solutions, common chemotherapy drugs, Factor VIII for haemophilia, immunosuppressants for kidney transplant patients and treatments for other chronic blood disease conditions. Any sustained gap in the supply of these items would have immediate negative impact on patients. The Human Appeal International (United Arab Emirates) and Qatar Red Crescent also provide donations to the MoH in Gaza via Rafah, but according to the MoH, only one drug shipment has been received via that route since 30 June, from an Italian NGO.
Construction industry collapsing
The Egyptian army began demolishing homes along the country’s border with the Gaza Strip today, an Israeli-style tactic carried out under the pretext of creating a “buffer zone” to “reduce weapons smuggling and illegal crossings by militants.”
In fact, Egypt is tightening its side of the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, deepening the economic and medical crisis faced by the territory’s almost 1.7 million Palestinian residents.
The dramatic effects of the tightening siege are revealed in the July monthly humanitarian report, [PDF] published on 23 August by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Meanwhile, the UN reports that Israel more doubled its number of violent attacks on Gaza fishermen in the first half of this year.
Cut off
Since the military coup that overthrew Egypt’s elected president Muhammad Morsi on 3 July, Egyptian authorities have kept the Rafah border crossing with Gaza closed for prolonged periods or operating far below normal levels.
“The average number of people passing per day in July was 540, less than 30 per cent of the approximately 1,860 who crossed daily in June,” OCHA notes.
“The crossing remains the primary exit and entry point to the Gaza Strip for Palestinians, due to the long-standing restrictions imposed by Israel on pedestrian movement via the Erez Crossing.”
Egypt has justified its restrictions often based on fabricated and baseless allegations demonizing Palestinians and claiming that Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza are engaged in hostilities against Egypt.
Medical patients badly affected
With the border so restricted, the effect on people traveling for medical care has been severe.
The Palestinian Authority health ministry routinely refers patients in Gaza for treatment at hospitals in Egypt or Israel – services for which it must pay – due to the inadequacy of health services in the occupied territory.
In July, however, “a total of 131 patients, of whom 22 were children up to 17 years old, were referred by the [health ministry] to Egypt, less than half the usual number,” OCHA reported.
But there were “no compensatory increases” in “referrals through Erez checkpoint to the West Bank and Israel, or to non-Ministry facilities within Gaza in July, suggesting that patients chose to delay medical treatment, rather than seek to obtain a permit to exit through Erez to alternative hospitals.”
Obtaining permission to travel through the Erez crossing into present-day Israel remains onerous and harrowing for Palestinians and, as OCHA states, “Patients aged 18-40 years, especially males, are most often required to submit to Israeli security interviews as part of the application process for permits to exit via Erez. Companions must also apply for permits, and may likewise be called for interviews.”
Israel has often attempted to blackmail Palestinian patients into becoming informers for its secret services in exchange for permission to receive life-saving medical care.
Along with medical patients, thousands of students and other travelers have faced long delays, or have been unable to travel at all.
Essential medicine supplies hit “zero” Since the coup in Egypt, OCHA reports, “the Ministry of Health in Gaza began restricting X-rays and limiting certain drugs to emergency use only, due to low supplies and the unreliable flow of medical supplies via the Rafah Crossing.”
At the end of July, “27 per cent (128 items) of essential medicines were at zero stock in the Central Drug Store in Gaza and 16 per cent (78 items) were at low stock (between 1-3 months’ supply).”
OCHA adds:
Twenty-five per cent of [Gaza’s] drug supplies are normally received from, or through, Egypt via this crossing. Two principal Egyptian donors, the Arab Physicians Union and the Physicians Syndicate, are expected to halt donations to Gaza in view of current urgent needs in Egypt. These groups have played a crucial role as a source for rapid supply of critical items, such as dialysis solutions, common chemotherapy drugs, Factor VIII for haemophilia, immunosuppressants for kidney transplant patients and treatments for other chronic blood disease conditions. Any sustained gap in the supply of these items would have immediate negative impact on patients. The Human Appeal International (United Arab Emirates) and Qatar Red Crescent also provide donations to the MoH in Gaza via Rafah, but according to the MoH, only one drug shipment has been received via that route since 30 June, from an Italian NGO.
Construction industry collapsing
Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza watch as Egyptian forces on the other side destroy supply tunnels running under the border, on 1 September 2013
Egypt has intensified its efforts to destroy the tunnels under the border with Gaza, that are a vital lifeline for the territory’s economy.
Because of Israel’s embargo, OCHA says, the “tunnels remain the main entry point for the transfer of construction materials into the Gaza Strip.”
In July, Egypt’s crackdown “included the destruction and flooding of tunnels, as well as the extensive deployment of security forces and the imposition of severe restrictions on access to the tunnel areas.”
Egypt has intensified its efforts to destroy the tunnels under the border with Gaza, that are a vital lifeline for the territory’s economy.
Because of Israel’s embargo, OCHA says, the “tunnels remain the main entry point for the transfer of construction materials into the Gaza Strip.”
In July, Egypt’s crackdown “included the destruction and flooding of tunnels, as well as the extensive deployment of security forces and the imposition of severe restrictions on access to the tunnel areas.”
A Palestinian worker rests in a supply tunnel beneath the Gaza-Egypt border on 27 August 2013
As a consequences, OCHA reports:
The Palestinian Federation of Industries estimated that, on average, around 1,500 tonnes of construction materials entered Gaza through the tunnels per day, compared to 7,500 tonnes prior to the imposition of the recent measures. The price of construction materials on local markets rose sharply before declining to between 20 to 30 per cent above the normal price by the end of the month, and leading to a sharp slowdown in construction activities and the operation of concrete mix factories.
The crackdown on the tunnels has also caused chronic shortages of fuel.
Meanwhile, Israel has attempted to paint the situation in Gaza as normal, or even flourishing, as when it published a cynical piece of propaganda claiming that Gaza is prospering.
An Israeli army propaganda release in August notoriously included an image of a luxury shopping mall in Malaysia that it falsely claimed was in the Gaza Strip.
Attacks on fishermen more than double Under the 1993 Oslo accords, Palestinians are supposed to be able to fish up to 20 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza. But Israel violently enforces a unilateral three-mile limit in violation of the agreements.
Since the ceasefire agreement after Israel’s November 2012 attack on Gaza, there has been a sharp increase in Israeli attacks on fishing boats, according to OCHA:
The number of violent incidents recorded during the first half of 2013, in the context of the enforcement of access restrictions at sea by the Israeli Navy, significantly increased compared to the previous six months (July-December 2012): shooting incidents more than doubled (95 vs. 43); incidents involving injuries were recorded for the first time in over a year (5 vs. 0); and the number of incidents in which fishing equipment was damaged or confiscated also increased significantly (12 vs.2). On the other hand, the number of fishermen detained (13 vs. 42) and boats confiscated (3 vs. 7) decreased significantly, while the number of boats damaged or destroyed was comparable to the previous reporting period (8 vs.9).
Palestinians now face an additional danger at sea. Medics reported on Friday that Egyptian gunboats opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats injuring two fishermen. Five others were detained, reports said.
The space in which Palestinians can try to ply their trade and earn a living at sea, or on land, in Gaza is being squeezed in a vice between Israel and its Egyptian army allies.
“Gaza has never harmed Egypt”
Palestinians in Gaza are feeling the pressure. As Asem Alnabeh, a university student in the territory commented on Twitter, “In Mubarak’s time … the occupation announced the war on Gaza from the heart of Cairo. But today [Israel] does not need to carry out a new war. The Egyptian army does it instead.”
Alnabeh was referring to the violent threats made during a visit to Cairo by Israel’s then foreign minister Tzipi Livni, just days before Israel’s December 2008 – January 2009 invasion of Gaza that killed 1,400 persons.
“Gaza has never harmed Egypt for a single day,” Alnabeh added, expressing the frustration many in Gaza feel at Egypt’s actions.
“We are ready to die for your sake. We supported your revolution and never fired a bullet toward you. Why are you joining hands with the occupation in fighting against Gaza?”
As a consequences, OCHA reports:
The Palestinian Federation of Industries estimated that, on average, around 1,500 tonnes of construction materials entered Gaza through the tunnels per day, compared to 7,500 tonnes prior to the imposition of the recent measures. The price of construction materials on local markets rose sharply before declining to between 20 to 30 per cent above the normal price by the end of the month, and leading to a sharp slowdown in construction activities and the operation of concrete mix factories.
The crackdown on the tunnels has also caused chronic shortages of fuel.
Meanwhile, Israel has attempted to paint the situation in Gaza as normal, or even flourishing, as when it published a cynical piece of propaganda claiming that Gaza is prospering.
An Israeli army propaganda release in August notoriously included an image of a luxury shopping mall in Malaysia that it falsely claimed was in the Gaza Strip.
Attacks on fishermen more than double Under the 1993 Oslo accords, Palestinians are supposed to be able to fish up to 20 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza. But Israel violently enforces a unilateral three-mile limit in violation of the agreements.
Since the ceasefire agreement after Israel’s November 2012 attack on Gaza, there has been a sharp increase in Israeli attacks on fishing boats, according to OCHA:
The number of violent incidents recorded during the first half of 2013, in the context of the enforcement of access restrictions at sea by the Israeli Navy, significantly increased compared to the previous six months (July-December 2012): shooting incidents more than doubled (95 vs. 43); incidents involving injuries were recorded for the first time in over a year (5 vs. 0); and the number of incidents in which fishing equipment was damaged or confiscated also increased significantly (12 vs.2). On the other hand, the number of fishermen detained (13 vs. 42) and boats confiscated (3 vs. 7) decreased significantly, while the number of boats damaged or destroyed was comparable to the previous reporting period (8 vs.9).
Palestinians now face an additional danger at sea. Medics reported on Friday that Egyptian gunboats opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats injuring two fishermen. Five others were detained, reports said.
The space in which Palestinians can try to ply their trade and earn a living at sea, or on land, in Gaza is being squeezed in a vice between Israel and its Egyptian army allies.
“Gaza has never harmed Egypt”
Palestinians in Gaza are feeling the pressure. As Asem Alnabeh, a university student in the territory commented on Twitter, “In Mubarak’s time … the occupation announced the war on Gaza from the heart of Cairo. But today [Israel] does not need to carry out a new war. The Egyptian army does it instead.”
Alnabeh was referring to the violent threats made during a visit to Cairo by Israel’s then foreign minister Tzipi Livni, just days before Israel’s December 2008 – January 2009 invasion of Gaza that killed 1,400 persons.
“Gaza has never harmed Egypt for a single day,” Alnabeh added, expressing the frustration many in Gaza feel at Egypt’s actions.
“We are ready to die for your sake. We supported your revolution and never fired a bullet toward you. Why are you joining hands with the occupation in fighting against Gaza?”
Egyptian security officials and residents say the military has demolished 13 homes along the Gaza Strip border for the possible creation of a buffer zone they hope will reduce weapons smuggling and illegal crossings by militants.
Northern Sinai government officials said Sunday the military envisions creating a house-free zone with no trees 500 meters (1640 feet) wide and 10 kilometers (6 miles) long starting at the Rafah border crossing. The officials said the homes with tunnels underneath them were bulldozed over the last 10 days as a test of the idea.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The Egyptian military has closed much of the once-bustling tunnel system, but some remain at the 15-kilometer (9-mile) stretch of border.
Northern Sinai government officials said Sunday the military envisions creating a house-free zone with no trees 500 meters (1640 feet) wide and 10 kilometers (6 miles) long starting at the Rafah border crossing. The officials said the homes with tunnels underneath them were bulldozed over the last 10 days as a test of the idea.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The Egyptian military has closed much of the once-bustling tunnel system, but some remain at the 15-kilometer (9-mile) stretch of border.
Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, has denied that elements of his movement were involved in the Sinai events. The spokesman said in a press release on Sunday that the allegation voiced by the Egyptian interior minister was completely untrue and baseless.
He charged that the claim was meant to mix things up and to justify tightening siege on Gaza Strip as evident in blasting tunnels and closing Rafah crossing, which is causing a humanitarian tragedy.
Abu Zuhri also denied that the new leader of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood group Mahmoud Ezzet was in Gaza.
He charged that the claim was meant to mix things up and to justify tightening siege on Gaza Strip as evident in blasting tunnels and closing Rafah crossing, which is causing a humanitarian tragedy.
Abu Zuhri also denied that the new leader of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood group Mahmoud Ezzet was in Gaza.
File - Tunnel Detonated
The Egyptian army detonated on Saturday evening [August 31 2013] five siege-busting tunnels across the Gaza-Egypt border area.
The Egyptian army said that the five tunnels were found in Salah Ed-Deen Gate area, east of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Local sources said that loud explosions were heard in the area.
The Egyptian army has been acting on detonating all located tunnels in Gaza, and previous flooded tunnels with waste-water, and even gassed them in some incidents. Most of the tunnels are now either destroyed, or partially destroyed but cannot be used due to serious risks of collapse.
The Palestinians started digging tunnel after Israel imposed its deadly siege on Gaza in 2007, as the siege led to sharp shortages in medical supplies, and emptied the shelves of Gaza stores and shops.
More than 400 patients, including infants and children died due to the siege. Many patients died while waiting permits from Israel to cross the border for medical treatment.
At least 232 Palestinians have also been killed in tunnel collapse accidents since the siege was imposed on Gaza. This number includes at least 20 Palestinians who were killed after the Israeli army bombarded several tunnels as they were in them.
Egyptian army blasts more tunnels in border area with Gaza
The Egyptian army detonated on Saturday evening five other tunnels on the Egyptian-Palestinian borders as part of its campaign against underground passages used by Gazans to bring vital needs to the besieged Gaza Strip. Palestinian local sources said that sounds of explosions rocked Salahuddin Gate area, east of Rafah, after the Egyptian army used explosive devices to destroy five tunnels there.
Units from the Egyptian army still persist in a frenzied campaign to destroy all the tunnels that were dug by Gaza civilians to cope with the impacts of the blockade imposed on the Strip by Israel and Egypt.
These tunnels had helped over the past years the Gaza population to survive the difficult humanitarian situation, especially during the two Israeli wars.
The Egyptian army detonated on Saturday evening [August 31 2013] five siege-busting tunnels across the Gaza-Egypt border area.
The Egyptian army said that the five tunnels were found in Salah Ed-Deen Gate area, east of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Local sources said that loud explosions were heard in the area.
The Egyptian army has been acting on detonating all located tunnels in Gaza, and previous flooded tunnels with waste-water, and even gassed them in some incidents. Most of the tunnels are now either destroyed, or partially destroyed but cannot be used due to serious risks of collapse.
The Palestinians started digging tunnel after Israel imposed its deadly siege on Gaza in 2007, as the siege led to sharp shortages in medical supplies, and emptied the shelves of Gaza stores and shops.
More than 400 patients, including infants and children died due to the siege. Many patients died while waiting permits from Israel to cross the border for medical treatment.
At least 232 Palestinians have also been killed in tunnel collapse accidents since the siege was imposed on Gaza. This number includes at least 20 Palestinians who were killed after the Israeli army bombarded several tunnels as they were in them.
Egyptian army blasts more tunnels in border area with Gaza
The Egyptian army detonated on Saturday evening five other tunnels on the Egyptian-Palestinian borders as part of its campaign against underground passages used by Gazans to bring vital needs to the besieged Gaza Strip. Palestinian local sources said that sounds of explosions rocked Salahuddin Gate area, east of Rafah, after the Egyptian army used explosive devices to destroy five tunnels there.
Units from the Egyptian army still persist in a frenzied campaign to destroy all the tunnels that were dug by Gaza civilians to cope with the impacts of the blockade imposed on the Strip by Israel and Egypt.
These tunnels had helped over the past years the Gaza population to survive the difficult humanitarian situation, especially during the two Israeli wars.
31 aug 2013
Egyptian security forces Saturday blew up six tunnels under the Palestinian-Egyptian border to the southern Gaza Strip. Alray reporter said two tunnels in Garadat area east of the Rafah crossing were completely destroyed in the evening. A cloud of smoke billowed out of the scene, no injuries among Palestinian reported.
Hours later, the Egyptian security forces planted bombs in 4 tunnels in the Brazil neighborhood in Rafah to detonate by remote control, while one tunnel was flooded with water before being destroyed.
Last Saturday, the Egyptian military destroyed two tunnels that have their entrances inside Egyptian houses at al-Sarsoriya area next to Brazil neighborhood of the Palestinian side.
The day before, the Egyptian army bombed three tunnels used for smuggling food stuffs, goods raw building materials that the Israeli occupation refuses to enter to the nearly 1.8 million population of the Gaza Strip.
The army had begun the crackdowns on border tunnels weeks before the military coup against President Mohamed Morsi –now in custody- took place on July 3rd.
Hundreds of Gaza citizens who make living through working at the underground tunnels are likely to become jobless.
Hours later, the Egyptian security forces planted bombs in 4 tunnels in the Brazil neighborhood in Rafah to detonate by remote control, while one tunnel was flooded with water before being destroyed.
Last Saturday, the Egyptian military destroyed two tunnels that have their entrances inside Egyptian houses at al-Sarsoriya area next to Brazil neighborhood of the Palestinian side.
The day before, the Egyptian army bombed three tunnels used for smuggling food stuffs, goods raw building materials that the Israeli occupation refuses to enter to the nearly 1.8 million population of the Gaza Strip.
The army had begun the crackdowns on border tunnels weeks before the military coup against President Mohamed Morsi –now in custody- took place on July 3rd.
Hundreds of Gaza citizens who make living through working at the underground tunnels are likely to become jobless.
Hundreds of Palestinian young men on Friday evening participated in a march held in Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza denouncing the military coup against Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi. The protestors carried Palestinian and Egyptian flags, pictures of president Morsi and banners of the four-finger solute emblem of Rabaa Adwiya square in Cairo. They also chanted slogans condemning the military coup and supporting Morsi.
Spokesman for the rally Abdullah Al-Jamel told the Palestinian information center reporter in Gaza that their solidarity with the Egyptian people are motivated by the history shared by the Palestinian and Egyptian peoples.
He also denounced the Egyptian media for launching an incitement campaign against Gaza and their attempts to implicate the Palestinians in Egypt's internal events.
Spokesman for the rally Abdullah Al-Jamel told the Palestinian information center reporter in Gaza that their solidarity with the Egyptian people are motivated by the history shared by the Palestinian and Egyptian peoples.
He also denounced the Egyptian media for launching an incitement campaign against Gaza and their attempts to implicate the Palestinians in Egypt's internal events.
Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, has condemned the Egyptian navy for shooting at a group of Palestinian fishermen. Abu Zuhri said in a press release on Friday that the act was “unjustified”, and called on the Egyptian authorities to release those arrested during the attack.
The Egyptian navy had arrested five fishermen, who were working near the Egyptian marine borders, and injured two others after shooting at them.
The Egyptian navy had arrested five fishermen, who were working near the Egyptian marine borders, and injured two others after shooting at them.
Egypt's army on Friday destroyed two smuggling tunnels under the border with Gaza, security officials said.
The tunnels were used to smuggle cars and other goods.
Egyptian army engineers demolished the tunnels using explosives.
The tunnels were used to smuggle cars and other goods.
Egyptian army engineers demolished the tunnels using explosives.
An Egyptian was killed and another injured by Israeli troops late Friday near Egypt's border with Israel.
Israeli soldiers fired on the two men after they entered a restricted area near the border zone, Israeli radio quoted an Israeli security source as saying.
The Israeli army said that troops had opened fire on two suspected infiltrators riding dune-buggies, who had entered a restricted zone near the border from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
After the two men ignored calls to halt, the soldiers opened fire, wounding both of them, the Israeli army said, adding that one of the suspects later succumbed to his injuries.
The second man, meanwhile, was taken to Israel for medical treatment, according to the Israeli army.
Egyptian authorities, who have yet to issue a formal statement on the issue, have been officially informed of the incident.
Israeli soldiers fired on the two men after they entered a restricted area near the border zone, Israeli radio quoted an Israeli security source as saying.
The Israeli army said that troops had opened fire on two suspected infiltrators riding dune-buggies, who had entered a restricted zone near the border from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
After the two men ignored calls to halt, the soldiers opened fire, wounding both of them, the Israeli army said, adding that one of the suspects later succumbed to his injuries.
The second man, meanwhile, was taken to Israel for medical treatment, according to the Israeli army.
Egyptian authorities, who have yet to issue a formal statement on the issue, have been officially informed of the incident.
30 aug 2013
Palestinian sources in Gaza have reported that five Palestinian fishermen have been kidnapped on Friday at dawn [August 30, 2013] after members of the Egyptian navy attacked their boat claiming they crossed into Egyptian water; a sixth fishermen was taken prisoners, and two were injured.
Head of the Palestinian Fishermen’s Syndicate, Nizar Ayyash, stated that an Egyptian navy boat attacked a number of Palestinian fishing boats fishing in Palestinian water, but close to Egyptian territorial waters.
Ayyash added that four of the kidnapped fishermen were working on the same boat, and that they have been identified as Ismail Jamal Basala, Khaled Jamal Basala, Maher Mazen Basala, and Mahmoud Nahedh Basala, while the fifth fisherman was identified as and Radwan Shallouf.
All of the kidnapped are from Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip’ the navy confiscated their boats.
He further stated that the Egyptian navy also opened fire at several Palestinian fishing boats, wounding two identified as Ismael Wael Al-Bardaweel in the arm and Ibrahim Abdullah An-Najjar in the foot. They were moved to Abu Yousef An-Najjar Hospital in Rafah suffering mild injuries.
Ayyash said that Egypt used to allow the Palestinian fishermen to fish close to its territorial waters, and described the incident as a “worrisome development”.
Head of the Palestinian Fishermen’s Syndicate, Nizar Ayyash, stated that an Egyptian navy boat attacked a number of Palestinian fishing boats fishing in Palestinian water, but close to Egyptian territorial waters.
Ayyash added that four of the kidnapped fishermen were working on the same boat, and that they have been identified as Ismail Jamal Basala, Khaled Jamal Basala, Maher Mazen Basala, and Mahmoud Nahedh Basala, while the fifth fisherman was identified as and Radwan Shallouf.
All of the kidnapped are from Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip’ the navy confiscated their boats.
He further stated that the Egyptian navy also opened fire at several Palestinian fishing boats, wounding two identified as Ismael Wael Al-Bardaweel in the arm and Ibrahim Abdullah An-Najjar in the foot. They were moved to Abu Yousef An-Najjar Hospital in Rafah suffering mild injuries.
Ayyash said that Egypt used to allow the Palestinian fishermen to fish close to its territorial waters, and described the incident as a “worrisome development”.
29 aug 2013
Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk called on the Egyptian leadership to put an end to the smear campaign launched by some parties in the country against his Movement and the Gaza Strip. In remarks on his facebook page, Abu Marzouk stressed that Hamas has no interest in getting involved or causing all the security events which it was accused falsely of, noting that all accusations and claims that had been made against Hamas were unfounded and with no evidence.
He also called for opening the Rafah border crossing since there is no reason to keep closing it after the Egyptian authorities destroyed the tunnels.
"Hamas has affirmed on different occasions its position on the need for opening the crossing in order for the tunnels to be shut down," the Hamas official stated.
"Egypt is neither a party to the notorious agreement of crossings, nor a party to the Paris agreement which restricts the Palestinian trade and considers the Palestinian economy part of the internal economy of the Zionists," he added, affirming his Movement's willingness to discuss the mechanisms for the opening of the crossing after all tunnels had been destroyed.
He also hailed Egyptian foreign minister Nabil Fahmi for his recent remarks about Gaza and Rafah crossing, saying that this new Egyptian position can be seen as a response to all parties that persist in demonizing Hamas and accusing it of being a threat to Egypt's security.
Minister Fahmi stated recently that Egypt would not accept to be a party to the blockade imposed on Gaza and it would be natural to discuss with Hamas the arrangements for the opening of Rafah crossing.
The minister also stated that Egypt is not a party to the 2005 agreement between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, and cannot accept starving the Palestinians in Gaza.
He also called for opening the Rafah border crossing since there is no reason to keep closing it after the Egyptian authorities destroyed the tunnels.
"Hamas has affirmed on different occasions its position on the need for opening the crossing in order for the tunnels to be shut down," the Hamas official stated.
"Egypt is neither a party to the notorious agreement of crossings, nor a party to the Paris agreement which restricts the Palestinian trade and considers the Palestinian economy part of the internal economy of the Zionists," he added, affirming his Movement's willingness to discuss the mechanisms for the opening of the crossing after all tunnels had been destroyed.
He also hailed Egyptian foreign minister Nabil Fahmi for his recent remarks about Gaza and Rafah crossing, saying that this new Egyptian position can be seen as a response to all parties that persist in demonizing Hamas and accusing it of being a threat to Egypt's security.
Minister Fahmi stated recently that Egypt would not accept to be a party to the blockade imposed on Gaza and it would be natural to discuss with Hamas the arrangements for the opening of Rafah crossing.
The minister also stated that Egypt is not a party to the 2005 agreement between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, and cannot accept starving the Palestinians in Gaza.
