17 oct 2013
The Palestine Now News Agency has reported that Egyptian soldiers opened fires at the Palestinian side near the border area in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian security sources in Gaza told Palestine Now that the Egyptian army targeted a number of Palestinians in their lands close to the border, no injuries have been reported.
The incident took place while the Egyptian Air Force was flying over the border area with Gaza.
Also on Wednesday, the Egyptian army detonated a tunnel under a home on the Egyptian side, and said that the tunnels lead to the Rafah city.
In related news, Israel allowed Egyptian F16 fighter jets to fly over the border area in Sinai for the first time in 34 years.
Israeli sources said that for the first time since the peace agreement was signed between Cairo and Tel Aviv in 1979, Israel has authorized Egyptian F16 jets to fly over the border area as part of operations the Egyptian military is conducting against armed groups in the Sinai Peninsula.
Palestinian security sources in Gaza told Palestine Now that the Egyptian army targeted a number of Palestinians in their lands close to the border, no injuries have been reported.
The incident took place while the Egyptian Air Force was flying over the border area with Gaza.
Also on Wednesday, the Egyptian army detonated a tunnel under a home on the Egyptian side, and said that the tunnels lead to the Rafah city.
In related news, Israel allowed Egyptian F16 fighter jets to fly over the border area in Sinai for the first time in 34 years.
Israeli sources said that for the first time since the peace agreement was signed between Cairo and Tel Aviv in 1979, Israel has authorized Egyptian F16 jets to fly over the border area as part of operations the Egyptian military is conducting against armed groups in the Sinai Peninsula.
Israeli Channel 2 has reported that, for the first time in 34 years, Egyptian F16 Fighter jets flew over the Egypt-Israel border area, “as part of Egyptian operations against gunmen in the area.”
Channel 2 said that, for the first time since the peace agreement was signed between Cairo and Tel Aviv in 1979, Israel has authorized Egyptian F16 jets to fly over the border area as part of operations the Egyptian military is conducting against armed groups in the Sinai Peninsula.
A month ago, Israel allowed Egyptian Apache helicopters to operate in the area, to allow the Egyptian military to strike “sites used by terrorists”, according to Israeli sources.
Furthermore, the Egyptian Army destroyed siege-busting border tunnel near Rafah city, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Egyptian sources said that the tunnel was dug under a house on the Egyptian side of the border, leading all the way into Rafah.
The Egyptian army evicted the resident from their home and destroyed the tunnel; damage to the home has also been reported.
Channel 2 said that, for the first time since the peace agreement was signed between Cairo and Tel Aviv in 1979, Israel has authorized Egyptian F16 jets to fly over the border area as part of operations the Egyptian military is conducting against armed groups in the Sinai Peninsula.
A month ago, Israel allowed Egyptian Apache helicopters to operate in the area, to allow the Egyptian military to strike “sites used by terrorists”, according to Israeli sources.
Furthermore, the Egyptian Army destroyed siege-busting border tunnel near Rafah city, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Egyptian sources said that the tunnel was dug under a house on the Egyptian side of the border, leading all the way into Rafah.
The Egyptian army evicted the resident from their home and destroyed the tunnel; damage to the home has also been reported.
15 oct 2013
A vendor sells pickles at al-Zawiya market in Gaza City: blockades, political turmoil and tunnel closures hace forced up prices dramatically
theguardian.com - In Gaza City's main market Mohammed Hilis stood disconsolately among piles of fruit and vegetables, waiting for customers. In the runup to Eid al-Adha, the second most important festival in the Muslim calendar, the market was unusually quiet. Steep price rises, unpaid salaries and layoffs – the consequences of the new Egyptian regime's antipathy towards Hamas – have been painfully felt by the Gaza Strip.
"A kilo of tomatoes used to be one shekel [17p]; now it is five shekels. Most prices have gone up 50 – 60%," said Hilis. "Why? Because of the costs of transportation, because there is no power to pump water to the fields, because there is no water. So people buy less." As a result, his wages have slumped from 30 – 20 shekels a day, playing its small part in propelling the downward spiral of Gaza's economy.
Six years after Israel imposed a stranglehold on Gaza as a punitive measure against the Hamas government, the strip of land along the Mediterranean is facing a new chokepoint from the south. After the Egyptian military forced President Mohamed Morsi out of office in July amid a brutal crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, the army embarked on a drive to regain control of the anarchic Sinai peninsula, isolate the Brotherhood's allies in neighbouring Gaza, and halt the traffic in goods, weapons and people through the tunnels under the border with the Palestinian territory.
According to the commander of Egypt's border guards force, Major-General Ahmad Ibrahim, almost 800 tunnels have been destroyed by his troops this year. Hamas is coy about the number of tunnels put out of action. But Hatem Owida, Gaza's deputy economic minister, said activity had been reduced by 80-90% since the military takeover in Egypt.
The impact has been swift and harsh for the people of Gaza. The plentiful supply of cheap Egyptian fuel has almost dried up; fuel from Israel is both scarce and twice the price. The fuel crisis has meant Gaza's daily power cuts now last up to eight hours. Prices of basic foodstuffs have risen, according to Owida: flour is up 9%; cooking oil 4 – 5%; and sugar 7%.
theguardian.com - In Gaza City's main market Mohammed Hilis stood disconsolately among piles of fruit and vegetables, waiting for customers. In the runup to Eid al-Adha, the second most important festival in the Muslim calendar, the market was unusually quiet. Steep price rises, unpaid salaries and layoffs – the consequences of the new Egyptian regime's antipathy towards Hamas – have been painfully felt by the Gaza Strip.
"A kilo of tomatoes used to be one shekel [17p]; now it is five shekels. Most prices have gone up 50 – 60%," said Hilis. "Why? Because of the costs of transportation, because there is no power to pump water to the fields, because there is no water. So people buy less." As a result, his wages have slumped from 30 – 20 shekels a day, playing its small part in propelling the downward spiral of Gaza's economy.
Six years after Israel imposed a stranglehold on Gaza as a punitive measure against the Hamas government, the strip of land along the Mediterranean is facing a new chokepoint from the south. After the Egyptian military forced President Mohamed Morsi out of office in July amid a brutal crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, the army embarked on a drive to regain control of the anarchic Sinai peninsula, isolate the Brotherhood's allies in neighbouring Gaza, and halt the traffic in goods, weapons and people through the tunnels under the border with the Palestinian territory.
According to the commander of Egypt's border guards force, Major-General Ahmad Ibrahim, almost 800 tunnels have been destroyed by his troops this year. Hamas is coy about the number of tunnels put out of action. But Hatem Owida, Gaza's deputy economic minister, said activity had been reduced by 80-90% since the military takeover in Egypt.
The impact has been swift and harsh for the people of Gaza. The plentiful supply of cheap Egyptian fuel has almost dried up; fuel from Israel is both scarce and twice the price. The fuel crisis has meant Gaza's daily power cuts now last up to eight hours. Prices of basic foodstuffs have risen, according to Owida: flour is up 9%; cooking oil 4 – 5%; and sugar 7%.
A girl rests on her luggage as she and her family wait to cross into Egypt from Gaza at the Rafah border crossing
The flow of construction materials has also slowed to a trickle, reversing a building boom seen in Gaza in the last few years. As a result of the crisis, Israel has eased its tight restrictions on the import of cement, gravel and iron, but only about 25% of Gaza's needs are being met and prices are around 30% higher. And on Sunday, Israel suspended delivery of construction materials following the discovery of a tunnel between Gaza and Israel, which it said was intended to be used to launch an attack.
The impact on the Gazan building industry has been catastrophic. "This is the second worst year we have known," said Nabil Abu Muaileq, head of the Palestinian Contractors' Union. Only 2008 – after Israel imposed its blockade – was worse. At least 15,000 construction jobs had been lost, he estimated. "The situation is very unstable."
According to a paper produced by the economics ministry, $450m (£280m) was lost to the Gazan economy between mid-June and the end of August as a result of the tunnels closures. More than a quarter of a million jobs have been lost across all sectors, with construction, services, transport and storage, manufacturing and agriculture taking big hits. It is a massive blow to an economy which had been showing small signs of growth.
Now, the beleaguered and overcrowded Gaza Strip faces a new economic free fall. The Hamas government's income has slumped, having lost nearly all its revenue from the taxes imposed on goods brought through the tunnels. "We cannot deny we are affected badly," said Owida. "We've lost about 30% of our income."
Around 47,000 government employees were paid only half their salaries for August, and had received nothing for September, although some payment was expected before the start of Eid.
The new regime in Cairo has also closed the Rafah crossing for long periods, the only exit from Gaza to Egypt. According to Gisha, an Israeli organisation that monitors the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza, the number of people leaving through Rafah has fallen by 76% since July.
Although Israel has increased by 24% the much smaller number of permits it grants to exit through the Erez crossing at the northern end of the Gaza Strip, there are still thousands of Palestinians trapped in Gaza: patients unable to access medical treatment; students unable to take up university places; expatriate Gazans unable to return to jobs in the Gulf states and elsewhere.
The flow of construction materials has also slowed to a trickle, reversing a building boom seen in Gaza in the last few years. As a result of the crisis, Israel has eased its tight restrictions on the import of cement, gravel and iron, but only about 25% of Gaza's needs are being met and prices are around 30% higher. And on Sunday, Israel suspended delivery of construction materials following the discovery of a tunnel between Gaza and Israel, which it said was intended to be used to launch an attack.
The impact on the Gazan building industry has been catastrophic. "This is the second worst year we have known," said Nabil Abu Muaileq, head of the Palestinian Contractors' Union. Only 2008 – after Israel imposed its blockade – was worse. At least 15,000 construction jobs had been lost, he estimated. "The situation is very unstable."
According to a paper produced by the economics ministry, $450m (£280m) was lost to the Gazan economy between mid-June and the end of August as a result of the tunnels closures. More than a quarter of a million jobs have been lost across all sectors, with construction, services, transport and storage, manufacturing and agriculture taking big hits. It is a massive blow to an economy which had been showing small signs of growth.
Now, the beleaguered and overcrowded Gaza Strip faces a new economic free fall. The Hamas government's income has slumped, having lost nearly all its revenue from the taxes imposed on goods brought through the tunnels. "We cannot deny we are affected badly," said Owida. "We've lost about 30% of our income."
Around 47,000 government employees were paid only half their salaries for August, and had received nothing for September, although some payment was expected before the start of Eid.
The new regime in Cairo has also closed the Rafah crossing for long periods, the only exit from Gaza to Egypt. According to Gisha, an Israeli organisation that monitors the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza, the number of people leaving through Rafah has fallen by 76% since July.
Although Israel has increased by 24% the much smaller number of permits it grants to exit through the Erez crossing at the northern end of the Gaza Strip, there are still thousands of Palestinians trapped in Gaza: patients unable to access medical treatment; students unable to take up university places; expatriate Gazans unable to return to jobs in the Gulf states and elsewhere.
An Israeli soldier stands by the opening of a tunnel from Gaza, that the IDF claims was built by terrorists. Gaza relies on a network of underground tunnels for black market goods but they are being closed by Israeli and Egyptian forces who say they are security threats
Fida'a Abu Assi, 25, was supposed to enrol at the University of Indianapolis by the 26 August for a masters in international relations, for which she had won a rare scholarship. On 7 October, the deadline for entry to the US detailed on her documentation, she was still in Gaza City, unable to leave either via Rafah or Erez.
"I blame Israel because they make our lives hell, and I blame Egypt for closing the Rafah border. They know there are students, patients, businessmen trapped here. People's lives are not a game. They are collectively punishing us," she said. "Every time you think things are getting better in Gaza, it gets worse again. You learn not to have any expectations."
Gaza's oldest travel agency, Shurafa Tours, has been dealing with the practical consequences of closures for decades. "People feel they are in a big prison. Every movement needs a permit, there is no schedule for when the crossings will be open, people just have to wait," said the manager, Nabil al-Shurafa, adding that some travellers were rebooking tickets three or four times at huge expense.
The military takeover in Egypt, and the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, has had a significant political, as well as economic, impact. "Yes, it's a blow to Hamas," said Taher al-Nounou, an official in the Palestinian movement.
In the past two years, Hamas has loosened its ties with its former sponsors and allies – Iran, Syria and Hezbollah – while investing hope and expectation in the regional rise of the Muslim Brotherhood. The strategy now appears to have backfired.
"The isolation imposed on Hamas and the Gaza Strip is now even worse than in the summer of 2007," said Mkhaimar Abusada, a political scientist at Al-Azhar University Gaza, referring to the period after Hamas took control of the Strip 18 months after winning elections. In an indication of the chill winds felt by the movement, Hamas leaders have largely gone to ground since the Egyptian coup, rarely travelling and making relatively few public appearances.
"The issue is not just about Egypt and Hamas; the whole region is now becoming more hostile to Islamists," said Abusada. "Hamas looks at this as a new siege of Gaza. And people on the street are sick and tired of being kept in a cage. The situation here could be on the verge of collapse."
Fida'a Abu Assi, 25, was supposed to enrol at the University of Indianapolis by the 26 August for a masters in international relations, for which she had won a rare scholarship. On 7 October, the deadline for entry to the US detailed on her documentation, she was still in Gaza City, unable to leave either via Rafah or Erez.
"I blame Israel because they make our lives hell, and I blame Egypt for closing the Rafah border. They know there are students, patients, businessmen trapped here. People's lives are not a game. They are collectively punishing us," she said. "Every time you think things are getting better in Gaza, it gets worse again. You learn not to have any expectations."
Gaza's oldest travel agency, Shurafa Tours, has been dealing with the practical consequences of closures for decades. "People feel they are in a big prison. Every movement needs a permit, there is no schedule for when the crossings will be open, people just have to wait," said the manager, Nabil al-Shurafa, adding that some travellers were rebooking tickets three or four times at huge expense.
The military takeover in Egypt, and the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, has had a significant political, as well as economic, impact. "Yes, it's a blow to Hamas," said Taher al-Nounou, an official in the Palestinian movement.
In the past two years, Hamas has loosened its ties with its former sponsors and allies – Iran, Syria and Hezbollah – while investing hope and expectation in the regional rise of the Muslim Brotherhood. The strategy now appears to have backfired.
"The isolation imposed on Hamas and the Gaza Strip is now even worse than in the summer of 2007," said Mkhaimar Abusada, a political scientist at Al-Azhar University Gaza, referring to the period after Hamas took control of the Strip 18 months after winning elections. In an indication of the chill winds felt by the movement, Hamas leaders have largely gone to ground since the Egyptian coup, rarely travelling and making relatively few public appearances.
"The issue is not just about Egypt and Hamas; the whole region is now becoming more hostile to Islamists," said Abusada. "Hamas looks at this as a new siege of Gaza. And people on the street are sick and tired of being kept in a cage. The situation here could be on the verge of collapse."
14 oct 2013
Abbas has no reason to abandon such a sweet arrangement.
By Ramzy Baroud
Since the Hamas election victory in January 2006 — and particularly after the Hamas-Fatah clashes and split between Gaza and the West Bank in the summer of 2007 — Gaza has undergone a disturbing human experiment, whose toll is unprecedented in the history of the impoverished Strip.
The plotters involve the usual suspects, each with a clear set of objectives behind the isolation and targeting of Gaza. The US and Israel have worked tirelessly to divide Palestinians and derail any chances of a unified government, let alone a cohesive national project. This helped Israel achieve two objectives: Blaming Palestinians for a lack of leadership (as in ‘we don’t have a peace partner’) for the collapse of the so-called peace process and creating distractions as it continued with the construction of its Apartheid Wall and colonies throughout the Occupied Territories.
The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has assumed the role of the local collaborator and has done its outmost to undermine Hamas at every turn. The US has ensured that no unity agreement is signed between Hamas and the PNA’s ruling Fatah party and if any such agreement is ever reached, it will never be honored. Israel moved into Gaza from time to time to test the resolve of Palestinian resistance, to ‘teach Gaza a lesson’ and to ensure that Hamas’ reign comes at a heavy price. PNA President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah was spoiled with much ‘aid’ and perks. Its officials are well paid, even when the rest of the Palestinians are not paid at all. According to VisualizingImpact.org, Palestinian politicians are the second highest paid in the world after Kenya, as a multiple of gross domestic product per capita.
Abbas, his officials and PNA security bosses have no reason to abandon such a sweet arrangement, especially if the other option will be to let go of their riches and embrace a national liberation project, the cost of which could be too high for pampered men to bear.
Isolated, lacking political savvy and out of options, Hamas made some costly mistakes, especially following the Arab upheaval that promised change, but threw the entire region into a high-stakes political gamble. Hamas became even more isolated, especially after the July military coup against Egypt’s first elected president. Mohammad Mursi, despite immense pressure, was much kinder to Palestinians in Gaza than his predecessor Hosni Mubarak, who was an important player in the Gaza experiment. His regime worked diligently to ensure that the siege on Gaza was complete and that an Islamic movement at his country’s doorsteps had no chance of proving politically viable.
The Mubarak regime played its role according to the script and greatly benefited too. For his tenacious efforts to contain ‘radical Islamists’ in Gaza, Mubarak was spared the sham democracy crusade launched by former US president George W. Bush. The US was and remains completely oblivious to numerous human rights violations carried out by Egypt’s security apparatus, the curtailing of freedoms and the brazen denial of basic rights of Egyptian citizens. US Congress seemed much more forgiving of Egypt’s abuses, compared to rights abuses carried out by other regimes — thanks in part to Egypt’s six-year-long crackdown on Gaza. Out of the four crossings that connect Gaza to the world, Israel is sealing three, while Egypt is choking the fourth and in the last two months, it has destroyed all tunnels that Gazans had dug to smuggle food and other urgent supplies. It is believed that some of these tunnels are also a source of arms that Palestinians in Gaza use in their war with Israel. As Gaza dies slowly, the waiting game continues. All parties — Israel, US, Egypt and the PNA and their regional allies are coordinating their efforts to ensure Hamas’ demise and PNA’s return to power.
In an article titled ‘Gaza: Crushed between Israel and Egypt’, Jonathan Cook wrote of a ‘cynical game’ that is on in full swing. The game expects the Egyptian military to destroy all tunnels and to close the Rafah border crossing for Israel to turn a blind eye to “Egypt pouring troops, as well as tanks and helicopters, into Sinai in violation of the 1979 peace treaty,” so that Gaza can become dependent on Israel’s ‘good favor’ once more. All of this is to “bolster the image of Abbas” and to present the PNA as a sane option as opposed to Hamas’ caustic policies.
Meanwhile, in the name of “national security”, Egypt seems to be planning something sinister as well. Apart from cutting Gaza off, its navy is attacking and imprisoning Gaza fisherman and its generals are constantly accusing Gaza of playing a role in the security unrest in Sinai. One of Egypt’s most prominent military leaders, General Ahmad Wasfi, warned “Gaza jihadists” in Kuwait’s Al Rai newspaper, saying he would “cut off the head of anyone who tries to threaten Egypt’s security”. This comes shortly after Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Nabeel Fahmy, threatened war on the Gaza Strip. More recently, Israeli daily Jerusalem Post cited a senior Egyptian source commenting to West Bank-based Ma’an news agency that “the Egyptian army has planned military attacks on specific targets in the Gaza Strip in the event that the security situation in the northern Sinai peninsula deteriorates”. According to the source, “Egyptian reconnaissance planes had photographed the potential targets”.
It is payback time as far as the plotters are concerned. Israel’s failed, albeit very violent wars on Gaza, fell short of eradicating Hamas or rooting out the Strip’s resistance groups. The US’s carrot-and-stick policies also failed as did most of US policies in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq, if not even before. As for Abbas, his credibility is at an all-time low and the only reason he remains in charge is because Israel sees some benefits in his continued presence. But since the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated government in Egypt, efforts have been renewed with earnest — this time involving all parties.
For months, there has been growing talk of a new “popular” movement in Gaza to topple Hamas. The movement is modeled after Egypt’s protests of June 29, which emboldened the military coup by Egypt’s strongman General Abdul Fatah Al Sissi. Hamas claims that several cells affiliated to Egyptian intelligence have been apprehended in Gaza. Protests are also planned for next month. “Hamas’ political rival, Fatah … is reported to be behind the new protest movement,” wrote Cook.
True, Hamas is now politically at its weakest, thereby creating an opportunity for its many enemies to make their move. But this is not just about Hamas. The ultimate aim is to remold Gaza, the heart of Palestinian resistance, and to turn the strip into an extension of its western-styled Ramallah under Abbas with its handsomely paid officials. If this goal is achieved, it will come at a very high price that will be exacted not just from Gaza, but from all Palestinians.
By Ramzy Baroud
Since the Hamas election victory in January 2006 — and particularly after the Hamas-Fatah clashes and split between Gaza and the West Bank in the summer of 2007 — Gaza has undergone a disturbing human experiment, whose toll is unprecedented in the history of the impoverished Strip.
The plotters involve the usual suspects, each with a clear set of objectives behind the isolation and targeting of Gaza. The US and Israel have worked tirelessly to divide Palestinians and derail any chances of a unified government, let alone a cohesive national project. This helped Israel achieve two objectives: Blaming Palestinians for a lack of leadership (as in ‘we don’t have a peace partner’) for the collapse of the so-called peace process and creating distractions as it continued with the construction of its Apartheid Wall and colonies throughout the Occupied Territories.
The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has assumed the role of the local collaborator and has done its outmost to undermine Hamas at every turn. The US has ensured that no unity agreement is signed between Hamas and the PNA’s ruling Fatah party and if any such agreement is ever reached, it will never be honored. Israel moved into Gaza from time to time to test the resolve of Palestinian resistance, to ‘teach Gaza a lesson’ and to ensure that Hamas’ reign comes at a heavy price. PNA President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah was spoiled with much ‘aid’ and perks. Its officials are well paid, even when the rest of the Palestinians are not paid at all. According to VisualizingImpact.org, Palestinian politicians are the second highest paid in the world after Kenya, as a multiple of gross domestic product per capita.
Abbas, his officials and PNA security bosses have no reason to abandon such a sweet arrangement, especially if the other option will be to let go of their riches and embrace a national liberation project, the cost of which could be too high for pampered men to bear.
Isolated, lacking political savvy and out of options, Hamas made some costly mistakes, especially following the Arab upheaval that promised change, but threw the entire region into a high-stakes political gamble. Hamas became even more isolated, especially after the July military coup against Egypt’s first elected president. Mohammad Mursi, despite immense pressure, was much kinder to Palestinians in Gaza than his predecessor Hosni Mubarak, who was an important player in the Gaza experiment. His regime worked diligently to ensure that the siege on Gaza was complete and that an Islamic movement at his country’s doorsteps had no chance of proving politically viable.
The Mubarak regime played its role according to the script and greatly benefited too. For his tenacious efforts to contain ‘radical Islamists’ in Gaza, Mubarak was spared the sham democracy crusade launched by former US president George W. Bush. The US was and remains completely oblivious to numerous human rights violations carried out by Egypt’s security apparatus, the curtailing of freedoms and the brazen denial of basic rights of Egyptian citizens. US Congress seemed much more forgiving of Egypt’s abuses, compared to rights abuses carried out by other regimes — thanks in part to Egypt’s six-year-long crackdown on Gaza. Out of the four crossings that connect Gaza to the world, Israel is sealing three, while Egypt is choking the fourth and in the last two months, it has destroyed all tunnels that Gazans had dug to smuggle food and other urgent supplies. It is believed that some of these tunnels are also a source of arms that Palestinians in Gaza use in their war with Israel. As Gaza dies slowly, the waiting game continues. All parties — Israel, US, Egypt and the PNA and their regional allies are coordinating their efforts to ensure Hamas’ demise and PNA’s return to power.
In an article titled ‘Gaza: Crushed between Israel and Egypt’, Jonathan Cook wrote of a ‘cynical game’ that is on in full swing. The game expects the Egyptian military to destroy all tunnels and to close the Rafah border crossing for Israel to turn a blind eye to “Egypt pouring troops, as well as tanks and helicopters, into Sinai in violation of the 1979 peace treaty,” so that Gaza can become dependent on Israel’s ‘good favor’ once more. All of this is to “bolster the image of Abbas” and to present the PNA as a sane option as opposed to Hamas’ caustic policies.
Meanwhile, in the name of “national security”, Egypt seems to be planning something sinister as well. Apart from cutting Gaza off, its navy is attacking and imprisoning Gaza fisherman and its generals are constantly accusing Gaza of playing a role in the security unrest in Sinai. One of Egypt’s most prominent military leaders, General Ahmad Wasfi, warned “Gaza jihadists” in Kuwait’s Al Rai newspaper, saying he would “cut off the head of anyone who tries to threaten Egypt’s security”. This comes shortly after Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Nabeel Fahmy, threatened war on the Gaza Strip. More recently, Israeli daily Jerusalem Post cited a senior Egyptian source commenting to West Bank-based Ma’an news agency that “the Egyptian army has planned military attacks on specific targets in the Gaza Strip in the event that the security situation in the northern Sinai peninsula deteriorates”. According to the source, “Egyptian reconnaissance planes had photographed the potential targets”.
It is payback time as far as the plotters are concerned. Israel’s failed, albeit very violent wars on Gaza, fell short of eradicating Hamas or rooting out the Strip’s resistance groups. The US’s carrot-and-stick policies also failed as did most of US policies in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq, if not even before. As for Abbas, his credibility is at an all-time low and the only reason he remains in charge is because Israel sees some benefits in his continued presence. But since the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated government in Egypt, efforts have been renewed with earnest — this time involving all parties.
For months, there has been growing talk of a new “popular” movement in Gaza to topple Hamas. The movement is modeled after Egypt’s protests of June 29, which emboldened the military coup by Egypt’s strongman General Abdul Fatah Al Sissi. Hamas claims that several cells affiliated to Egyptian intelligence have been apprehended in Gaza. Protests are also planned for next month. “Hamas’ political rival, Fatah … is reported to be behind the new protest movement,” wrote Cook.
True, Hamas is now politically at its weakest, thereby creating an opportunity for its many enemies to make their move. But this is not just about Hamas. The ultimate aim is to remold Gaza, the heart of Palestinian resistance, and to turn the strip into an extension of its western-styled Ramallah under Abbas with its handsomely paid officials. If this goal is achieved, it will come at a very high price that will be exacted not just from Gaza, but from all Palestinians.
Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya reiterated his government's position of not interfering in the internal affairs of any Arab country, especially Egypt. "We are just protecting our southern borders with Egypt and not interfering in its affairs because the national security of Egypt and Arabs concerns us and Gaza is an extension to the Egyptian, Arab and Islamic security," premier Haneyya stated during a graduation ceremony of police officers held in Gaza on Sunday evening.
During his speech, Haneyya hailed the role of the Palestinian interior ministry and its members in safeguarding the internal front and the Palestinian community in the besieged Gaza Strip, especially during the Israeli wars.
The premier also highlighted that the security in Gaza is based on some pillars, most importantly, the protection of the homeland and the population against any Israeli aggression.
During his speech, Haneyya hailed the role of the Palestinian interior ministry and its members in safeguarding the internal front and the Palestinian community in the besieged Gaza Strip, especially during the Israeli wars.
The premier also highlighted that the security in Gaza is based on some pillars, most importantly, the protection of the homeland and the population against any Israeli aggression.
13 oct 2013
By Khalid Amayreh
Political figures affiliated with the puppet government of Egypt continue to make virtually daily threats against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The recurrent threats to invade Gaza and murder and maim Palestinians, say pundits in both Egypt and occupied Palestine, is a reflection of the failure and moral bankruptcy of the Sisi coup.
Sisi, the treacherous Egyptian defense minister who overthrew the only democratically-elected President in Egypt's entire history had claimed that he intended to restore true democracy.
However, a 100 days into the bloody coup, Egypt is drenched in blood and becoming a failed state where massacres of innocent civilians are committed with impunity nearly on a daily basis and where the country's justice system, which would have been the people's last hope for a better tomorrow, has effectively become a rubber stamp in the hands of the criminal coup makers to imprison torture, murder and ban political opponents, especially members and supporters of Egypt's largest and most popular political and social movement, the Muslim Brotherhood.
In fact, a fleeting look at Egypt these days reveals a ramshackle country, failing in every conceivable respect. Yes, some Gulf Sheikhdoms and fiefdoms are desperately trying to prop up the fascist junta in Cairo with billions of dollars. However, it is amply clear that a body that is hopelessly plagued with an incurable disease will not respond even to the best medication.
As to the Egyptian army, it has reduced itself, thanks to Sisi, et al, to a violent and undisciplined secular anti-Islam militia, hounding and ganging up on everything Islamic in a country that prides itself on being a citadel of Islam. Interestingly, this is done in collusion with certain influential criminal elements within the Coptic Church and a handful of secular elements, inculcated with hatred and vindictiveness for Islam and Muslims.
Last week, the Sisi junta sought to exploit the 40th anniversary of the 1973 war with Israel in order to enhance its popularity. But the day, 6 October, ended only with the murder of more than 60 Egyptian men, women and children and the maiming of hundreds….all in order to underscore the "manliness and virility" of Abdul Fatah Sisi, the traitor of his country and murderer of his own people.
More to the point, thanks to Sisi's follies, Egypt is now in a state of virtual civil war and an armed insurrection waged by frustrated Islamist elements worried that the criminal junta, in concert with the equally criminal Coptic Church, is trying to denude the country of its Arab-Islamic identity.
Unfortunately, these fears don't seem to be unfounded. The new so-called "constitution" which is being prepared by anti-Islam elements who had failed in every election, is really aimed at de-Islamizing the country. This is what these people are saying shamelessly openly.
Of course, we all know that the "constitution" being worked on by people carefully chosen by the military junta, who are overwhelmed with vengeance toward anything Islamic, will not have the dignity of a toilet paper, even if 99.99% of the masses voted "Yes."
This is because a criminal military junta that cancelled the legitimate constitution, usurped the collective will of the Egyptian people, overthrew the democratically-elected president and murdered thousands in cold blood can not be really trusted to hold free and fair elections.
Indeed, holding free elections would require a simple requirement: Honesty. Unfortunately, this essential commodity doesn't exist within the coup makers and their puppet government.
Now, the coup makers and their mouthpieces and spokespersons are threatening Gaza, which resisted and withstood the mighty Israeli army for 24 days, when Egypt, Syria and other Arab countries couldn't do that for more than few days.
The coup makers know deep in their hearts that the Palestinian authorities in Gaza have no interests in alienating whoever is in charge in Cairo. However, as the murderous junta in Cairo carries on its dirty hands tons of innocent Egyptian blood and as it is demonstrating day after day its utter failure and impotence to pacify a fledging armed insurrection, it is seeking a scapegoat, and the scapegoat must be Gaza, the thoroughly tormented and hermetically blockaded coastal Palestinian territory.
The coup authorities claim rather mendaciously that Gazans are taking part in attacks on Egyptian security targets. However, these authorities have failed to produce any shred of evidence corroborating their baseless allegations.
Nonetheless, an Egyptian foray or incursion into Gaza won't be a boon for the bankrupt junta in Cairo. I have no doubt whatsoever that an Egyptian aggression on Gaza would boomerang sooner or later on the criminal traitors. It would be probably the ultimate occasion that would prompt the free Egyptian army to settle scores with Sisi and cohorts.
There is no doubt that all sincere Palestinians and Egyptians and Muslims everywhere hope and pray that the Egyptian armed forces will not besmirch its image, or what has remained intact of it, by invading Gaza and murdering Palestinians. Certainly, this would be an indelible badge of shame and dishonor upon Egypt for many years to come.
In the meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority (PA) leadership in Ramallah must also do what it has to do to prevent a possible Egyptian aggression on Gaza. President Mahmoud Abbas is also called upon to rein in some of his big-mouth aides who don't stop trying to induce the criminal junta in Cairo to invade Gaza.
At this crucial juncture, Palestinians need to enhance mutual trust, not conspire and connive against each other.
However, it is more than obvious that the cause of Palestinian national reconciliation will not be served by the unceasing ranting and raving by certain aides of Chairman Abbas in Ramallah. This is why Mr.Abbas would be doing a great service for the Palestinian national cause if he ordered people like Muhammed Habbash, his ambassador to Cairo and Fatah leader Azzam al-Ahmad to shut their mouths up.
Political figures affiliated with the puppet government of Egypt continue to make virtually daily threats against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The recurrent threats to invade Gaza and murder and maim Palestinians, say pundits in both Egypt and occupied Palestine, is a reflection of the failure and moral bankruptcy of the Sisi coup.
Sisi, the treacherous Egyptian defense minister who overthrew the only democratically-elected President in Egypt's entire history had claimed that he intended to restore true democracy.
However, a 100 days into the bloody coup, Egypt is drenched in blood and becoming a failed state where massacres of innocent civilians are committed with impunity nearly on a daily basis and where the country's justice system, which would have been the people's last hope for a better tomorrow, has effectively become a rubber stamp in the hands of the criminal coup makers to imprison torture, murder and ban political opponents, especially members and supporters of Egypt's largest and most popular political and social movement, the Muslim Brotherhood.
In fact, a fleeting look at Egypt these days reveals a ramshackle country, failing in every conceivable respect. Yes, some Gulf Sheikhdoms and fiefdoms are desperately trying to prop up the fascist junta in Cairo with billions of dollars. However, it is amply clear that a body that is hopelessly plagued with an incurable disease will not respond even to the best medication.
As to the Egyptian army, it has reduced itself, thanks to Sisi, et al, to a violent and undisciplined secular anti-Islam militia, hounding and ganging up on everything Islamic in a country that prides itself on being a citadel of Islam. Interestingly, this is done in collusion with certain influential criminal elements within the Coptic Church and a handful of secular elements, inculcated with hatred and vindictiveness for Islam and Muslims.
Last week, the Sisi junta sought to exploit the 40th anniversary of the 1973 war with Israel in order to enhance its popularity. But the day, 6 October, ended only with the murder of more than 60 Egyptian men, women and children and the maiming of hundreds….all in order to underscore the "manliness and virility" of Abdul Fatah Sisi, the traitor of his country and murderer of his own people.
More to the point, thanks to Sisi's follies, Egypt is now in a state of virtual civil war and an armed insurrection waged by frustrated Islamist elements worried that the criminal junta, in concert with the equally criminal Coptic Church, is trying to denude the country of its Arab-Islamic identity.
Unfortunately, these fears don't seem to be unfounded. The new so-called "constitution" which is being prepared by anti-Islam elements who had failed in every election, is really aimed at de-Islamizing the country. This is what these people are saying shamelessly openly.
Of course, we all know that the "constitution" being worked on by people carefully chosen by the military junta, who are overwhelmed with vengeance toward anything Islamic, will not have the dignity of a toilet paper, even if 99.99% of the masses voted "Yes."
This is because a criminal military junta that cancelled the legitimate constitution, usurped the collective will of the Egyptian people, overthrew the democratically-elected president and murdered thousands in cold blood can not be really trusted to hold free and fair elections.
Indeed, holding free elections would require a simple requirement: Honesty. Unfortunately, this essential commodity doesn't exist within the coup makers and their puppet government.
Now, the coup makers and their mouthpieces and spokespersons are threatening Gaza, which resisted and withstood the mighty Israeli army for 24 days, when Egypt, Syria and other Arab countries couldn't do that for more than few days.
The coup makers know deep in their hearts that the Palestinian authorities in Gaza have no interests in alienating whoever is in charge in Cairo. However, as the murderous junta in Cairo carries on its dirty hands tons of innocent Egyptian blood and as it is demonstrating day after day its utter failure and impotence to pacify a fledging armed insurrection, it is seeking a scapegoat, and the scapegoat must be Gaza, the thoroughly tormented and hermetically blockaded coastal Palestinian territory.
The coup authorities claim rather mendaciously that Gazans are taking part in attacks on Egyptian security targets. However, these authorities have failed to produce any shred of evidence corroborating their baseless allegations.
Nonetheless, an Egyptian foray or incursion into Gaza won't be a boon for the bankrupt junta in Cairo. I have no doubt whatsoever that an Egyptian aggression on Gaza would boomerang sooner or later on the criminal traitors. It would be probably the ultimate occasion that would prompt the free Egyptian army to settle scores with Sisi and cohorts.
There is no doubt that all sincere Palestinians and Egyptians and Muslims everywhere hope and pray that the Egyptian armed forces will not besmirch its image, or what has remained intact of it, by invading Gaza and murdering Palestinians. Certainly, this would be an indelible badge of shame and dishonor upon Egypt for many years to come.
In the meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority (PA) leadership in Ramallah must also do what it has to do to prevent a possible Egyptian aggression on Gaza. President Mahmoud Abbas is also called upon to rein in some of his big-mouth aides who don't stop trying to induce the criminal junta in Cairo to invade Gaza.
At this crucial juncture, Palestinians need to enhance mutual trust, not conspire and connive against each other.
However, it is more than obvious that the cause of Palestinian national reconciliation will not be served by the unceasing ranting and raving by certain aides of Chairman Abbas in Ramallah. This is why Mr.Abbas would be doing a great service for the Palestinian national cause if he ordered people like Muhammed Habbash, his ambassador to Cairo and Fatah leader Azzam al-Ahmad to shut their mouths up.
Hamas movement condemned the closure of tunnels without providing an alternative in light of the occupation new announcement to prevent the entry of construction materials into the Gaza Strip. The movement spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement on Sunday that the current situation permits the occupation to blackmail Gaza and impose its control over its citizens.
The occupation authorities stopped this morning coordination to the entry of construction materials into Gaza through the Karm Abu Salem military crossing south of the Strip.
Raed Fattouh, spokesman for the Coordinating Committee of the entry of goods and construction materials into the Gaza Strip, told PIC that the occupation informed them that the decision is valid for two days without giving them any reasons.
This decision came hours after the occupation announced the discovery of a booby-trapped tunnel between Gaza and the 1948-occupied territories.
The occupation authorities stopped this morning coordination to the entry of construction materials into Gaza through the Karm Abu Salem military crossing south of the Strip.
Raed Fattouh, spokesman for the Coordinating Committee of the entry of goods and construction materials into the Gaza Strip, told PIC that the occupation informed them that the decision is valid for two days without giving them any reasons.
This decision came hours after the occupation announced the discovery of a booby-trapped tunnel between Gaza and the 1948-occupied territories.
Egyptian border guards detained 277 migrants attempting to cross Egypt's borders without proper documents on Sunday, Egyptian security sources reported.
The sources told a Ma'an reporter in Cairo that 166 of the migrants were detained along Egypt's border with Libya to the West at an unidentified location. The sources identified the detained migrants according to nationality, describing them as 88 Sudanese, 68 Eritreans, eight Ethiopians, and two Syrians.
Six Libyan drivers were waiting in vehicles without license plates in order to help the migrants cross the Egyptian border, but the migrants were detained moments before they managed to board the vehicles. The drivers were also detained and border guards subsequently found a machine gun in one of their vehicles, sources said.
Separately, another group of migrants were detained along Egypt’s western border with Libya near al-Salloum border crossing. Sources told a Ma'an reporter that 111 migrants, including 95 Egyptians, 15 Sudanese and one Bangladeshi, were detained.
In the same area, Egyptian border guard forces reported that they seized about 22 kilograms of hashish in a vehicle without license plates.
Separately, Egyptian troops reportedly detained a "dangerous criminal" in the northeastern city of al-Qantara, on the eastern side of the Suez Canal. The suspect is accused of attacking military checkpoints and police officers in North Sinai district. He had been sentenced in absentia to five years in prison.
The sources told a Ma'an reporter in Cairo that 166 of the migrants were detained along Egypt's border with Libya to the West at an unidentified location. The sources identified the detained migrants according to nationality, describing them as 88 Sudanese, 68 Eritreans, eight Ethiopians, and two Syrians.
Six Libyan drivers were waiting in vehicles without license plates in order to help the migrants cross the Egyptian border, but the migrants were detained moments before they managed to board the vehicles. The drivers were also detained and border guards subsequently found a machine gun in one of their vehicles, sources said.
Separately, another group of migrants were detained along Egypt’s western border with Libya near al-Salloum border crossing. Sources told a Ma'an reporter that 111 migrants, including 95 Egyptians, 15 Sudanese and one Bangladeshi, were detained.
In the same area, Egyptian border guard forces reported that they seized about 22 kilograms of hashish in a vehicle without license plates.
Separately, Egyptian troops reportedly detained a "dangerous criminal" in the northeastern city of al-Qantara, on the eastern side of the Suez Canal. The suspect is accused of attacking military checkpoints and police officers in North Sinai district. He had been sentenced in absentia to five years in prison.
An old Palestinian woman was injured when Egyptian forces shelled the tunnels area on the borders with the Gaza Strip on Saturday night. Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, the health ministry spokesman, said that 63-year-old Asmahan Abu Taha was slightly injured in her head and taken to hospital for treatment.
He said that the old woman was hit with flying glass after the Egyptian shelling shattered windows in her home in Rafah.
The Egyptian army has been destroying tunnels between Sinai and Gaza Strip over the past three months and intensified raids on the border area over the past few days at the pretext of destroying those tunnels.
He said that the old woman was hit with flying glass after the Egyptian shelling shattered windows in her home in Rafah.
The Egyptian army has been destroying tunnels between Sinai and Gaza Strip over the past three months and intensified raids on the border area over the past few days at the pretext of destroying those tunnels.
The Palestinian al-Ahrar movement has condemned Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's demand that the Egyptian authorities completely close the food tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Memo reported. The movement accused Abbas of taking part in the plot to starve the Palestinian people in the besieged Gaza Strip.
According to a statement issued by the movement on Saturday, "Abbas' demand opposes all values and discharges him of all national responsibilities as he oversteps borders by promoting the tightening of the siege that is killing the people in Gaza."
The statement attributed the reason behind Abbas' demand to his efforts to force “the people in Gaza to bow down” so that “he will be able to extend his control over them more easily."
It also denounced his pride in the security cooperation between "his" security forces in the West Bank and the Israeli occupation, saying that the Palestinian Authority's security services “offer a free service to the Israeli occupation”. The statement added that, "this harms Palestinian interests."
Meanwhile, Al-Ahrar also called on all the Palestinian factions to join together to demand that the Egyptian authorities completely open the Rafah Crossing as it is the "sole lung which brings fresh air" to the Strip's besieged residents.
In his last visit to Cairo, Abbas asked the current Egyptian authorities to completely close the tunnels with Gaza and to severe diplomatic relations with its government.
According to a statement issued by the movement on Saturday, "Abbas' demand opposes all values and discharges him of all national responsibilities as he oversteps borders by promoting the tightening of the siege that is killing the people in Gaza."
The statement attributed the reason behind Abbas' demand to his efforts to force “the people in Gaza to bow down” so that “he will be able to extend his control over them more easily."
It also denounced his pride in the security cooperation between "his" security forces in the West Bank and the Israeli occupation, saying that the Palestinian Authority's security services “offer a free service to the Israeli occupation”. The statement added that, "this harms Palestinian interests."
Meanwhile, Al-Ahrar also called on all the Palestinian factions to join together to demand that the Egyptian authorities completely open the Rafah Crossing as it is the "sole lung which brings fresh air" to the Strip's besieged residents.
In his last visit to Cairo, Abbas asked the current Egyptian authorities to completely close the tunnels with Gaza and to severe diplomatic relations with its government.
The border area between Gaza and Egypt that stretches for 14 kilometers (nine miles) seems totally calm — a far cry from the warnings of the Palestinian and Egyptian media about mounting tension and a security situation that is likely to explode. On the Egyptian side, soldiers move about in their military patrol vehicles without any fear, while on the Palestinian side the National Security Force soldiers in charge of securing the area wave their hands to salute the soldiers across the border.
Al-Monitor’s correspondent saw this scene as she traveled from the midpoint of the border — where the headquarters of the National Security Force, affiliated with Interior Ministry of Gaza, is located — west to the maritime border along the Mediterranean sea. She then went the other direction, to the Rafah crossing. The Karam Abu Salem commercial crossing is the last point on the border with Egypt, where people are not allowed access. Al-Monitor was only allowed to tour the border with permission from Gaza’s Ministry of Interior, which sent a minder to accompany her.
According to the latest media reports quoting Ahmed Wasfi, the commander of the Second Army of the Egyptian armed forces in the Sinai, “Jihadists are present in the Gaza Strip, and they are downplaying the role of Egypt there.” He warned them of the wrath of the Egyptian army.
“I say to these jihadists, we will not allow you to repeat your criminal acts in the Sinai. We will cut off the heads of those who try to threaten Egypt’s security and safety,” said Wasfi, speaking to the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai.
“The Egyptian army does not attack anyone beyond its border. We will discipline anyone who tries to harm our country,” he added.
The Gaza government, on the other hand, considered these statements clear threats against the Strip. The government spokesperson, Ihab al-Ghussein, demanded the Egyptian authorities take an official position toward the repeated statements that “threaten the security and stability of the Palestinian people.”
Nevertheless, on the border, things are different. Egyptian soldiers patrol the area with their tanks, moving along the narrow strip of land between the short barbed-wire fence — which has been likely standing on the Palestinian side since the Camp David Accords — and the thick separation wall that the Egyptian authorities began to build in 2008 on their border. This area is called the Philadelphi Route.
At a distance of about 200 meters (650 feet) from the border wall lies the office of the Palestinian deputy commander-general of the National Security Force, Tarek Abu Hashim, who met with Al-Monitor. He confirmed that there are no indications of an imminent war by the Egyptian army on the Strip, adding, “The forces on the ground are not sufficient to launch any attack. This is not to mention the moral deterrent.”
Abu Hashim, who spoke with an Egyptian accent, has spent a great deal of his life in Egypt. He said, “There have been some encroachments, indeed. Reinforcements have been made since June 30, but they cannot be considered a threat to the security of Gaza.”
Under the Philadelphi Accord, following the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Egypt was authorized to deploy 750 soldiers on the border with machine guns and light rocket launchers. However, Abu Hashim said that after June 30, “We noticed the arrival of more heavy weapons and the deployment of two infantry regiments of 350 soldiers each. This is not to mention three heavy artillery brigades of nine military vehicles each, in addition to the deployment of the 777th Battalion, which is an infantry regiment composed of 300 soldiers, on the border opposite Tal al-Zaarab region,” he added.
When asked about the source of his information, Abu Hashim said it came “from the media of the army itself,” insisting that these reinforcements do not pose a threat to Gaza. He said, “Invading the Strip would require many times this number of soldiers. If they were expecting to face 10,000 Palestinian armed men, they will get 30,000 soldiers, and so on.”
He noticed that following the statements made by Wasfi, the patrol vehicles returned to the narrow strip of land between the two walls on the border and the arrival of new reinforcements. He said, “Before that, an Egyptian military jet violated [Palestinian] airspace twice on Oct. 2.”
Lt. Abu Mohammed, who was present during the meeting, said that verbal altercations occur from time to time, the most recent of which was on Sept.18.
“I was checking the border when an Egyptian soldier insulted me and pointed his weapon at my face,” said the lieutenant. Abu Hashim interrupted him, saying that calm had been restored later on and that the men had drunk water together.
“I asked Egyptian soldiers not to point their guns at us anymore, and they haven’t done this ever since,” Abu Hashim said.
Along the border down to the nearest Egyptian military point, to the far west right before the coastline, a few wires and poles that would be easy to circumvent separated the two territories. An Egyptian soldier stood there talking over the phone, his voice audible from the Gaza side. However, the security distance seems far greater than the geographic one.
Sgt. Ibrahim Arafat, from the Palestinian National Security Force, has been working at this border point, called al-Azba, for seven years. He told Al-Monitor, “Before, we were friends with Egyptian soldiers. We used to share conversations and have tea together. But now everything has changed. Even officers and soldiers have been replaced.” He also said that sometimes Egyptian tanks are positioned opposite their locations, but without threatening them.
It is worth noting that there is a National Security Force checkpoint every two kilometers (1.2 miles). On the other side, there is an Egyptian watchtower. One can clearly see the buffer zone beyond the Egyptian border standing on the al-Zaarab hill, which is the highest point along the border. We could also spot the empty buildings on the Egyptian side. Military barricades are deployed and soldiers are on the roofs of the buildings, but their guns are not directed toward the Strip.
Al-Monitor obtained information from a Palestinian security source who, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that from July 25 to Sept. 11, there were 27 violations on the part of the Egyptian army. These included firing at fishermen, jets crossing into Palestinian airspace, cheering for Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, taking photos of Palestinian locations and hurling insults.
On the border, near the Karam Abu Salem crossing, Al-Monitor met with a sergeant in the National Security Force who went by the name of Abu Ahmed. He works at the last military point on the eastern border with Egypt, called 5-5. He spoke with a Bedouin accent.
“Less than a month ago, we were shot at from the Egyptian side. We all lay down on the ground,” Abu Ahmed noted, saying that the shots were most likely stray bullets. He stressed that no gunmen from Gaza are allowed to fire at the Egyptian army.
“They say we are affiliated with Hamas or [Izz ad-Din] al-Qassam [Brigades], but we are members of the National Security Force. We have orders not to attack any one of them,” he added.
One leaves the border with the impression that peace prevails and that violations on the part of either side are rare accidents. However, a political decision could change this fact at any moment, as is the case with the region of the tunnels. It was a short while ago a bustling industrial zone, and now it has become a deserted area, except for some dogs lying on dirt piles.
Al-Monitor’s correspondent saw this scene as she traveled from the midpoint of the border — where the headquarters of the National Security Force, affiliated with Interior Ministry of Gaza, is located — west to the maritime border along the Mediterranean sea. She then went the other direction, to the Rafah crossing. The Karam Abu Salem commercial crossing is the last point on the border with Egypt, where people are not allowed access. Al-Monitor was only allowed to tour the border with permission from Gaza’s Ministry of Interior, which sent a minder to accompany her.
According to the latest media reports quoting Ahmed Wasfi, the commander of the Second Army of the Egyptian armed forces in the Sinai, “Jihadists are present in the Gaza Strip, and they are downplaying the role of Egypt there.” He warned them of the wrath of the Egyptian army.
“I say to these jihadists, we will not allow you to repeat your criminal acts in the Sinai. We will cut off the heads of those who try to threaten Egypt’s security and safety,” said Wasfi, speaking to the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai.
“The Egyptian army does not attack anyone beyond its border. We will discipline anyone who tries to harm our country,” he added.
The Gaza government, on the other hand, considered these statements clear threats against the Strip. The government spokesperson, Ihab al-Ghussein, demanded the Egyptian authorities take an official position toward the repeated statements that “threaten the security and stability of the Palestinian people.”
Nevertheless, on the border, things are different. Egyptian soldiers patrol the area with their tanks, moving along the narrow strip of land between the short barbed-wire fence — which has been likely standing on the Palestinian side since the Camp David Accords — and the thick separation wall that the Egyptian authorities began to build in 2008 on their border. This area is called the Philadelphi Route.
At a distance of about 200 meters (650 feet) from the border wall lies the office of the Palestinian deputy commander-general of the National Security Force, Tarek Abu Hashim, who met with Al-Monitor. He confirmed that there are no indications of an imminent war by the Egyptian army on the Strip, adding, “The forces on the ground are not sufficient to launch any attack. This is not to mention the moral deterrent.”
Abu Hashim, who spoke with an Egyptian accent, has spent a great deal of his life in Egypt. He said, “There have been some encroachments, indeed. Reinforcements have been made since June 30, but they cannot be considered a threat to the security of Gaza.”
Under the Philadelphi Accord, following the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Egypt was authorized to deploy 750 soldiers on the border with machine guns and light rocket launchers. However, Abu Hashim said that after June 30, “We noticed the arrival of more heavy weapons and the deployment of two infantry regiments of 350 soldiers each. This is not to mention three heavy artillery brigades of nine military vehicles each, in addition to the deployment of the 777th Battalion, which is an infantry regiment composed of 300 soldiers, on the border opposite Tal al-Zaarab region,” he added.
When asked about the source of his information, Abu Hashim said it came “from the media of the army itself,” insisting that these reinforcements do not pose a threat to Gaza. He said, “Invading the Strip would require many times this number of soldiers. If they were expecting to face 10,000 Palestinian armed men, they will get 30,000 soldiers, and so on.”
He noticed that following the statements made by Wasfi, the patrol vehicles returned to the narrow strip of land between the two walls on the border and the arrival of new reinforcements. He said, “Before that, an Egyptian military jet violated [Palestinian] airspace twice on Oct. 2.”
Lt. Abu Mohammed, who was present during the meeting, said that verbal altercations occur from time to time, the most recent of which was on Sept.18.
“I was checking the border when an Egyptian soldier insulted me and pointed his weapon at my face,” said the lieutenant. Abu Hashim interrupted him, saying that calm had been restored later on and that the men had drunk water together.
“I asked Egyptian soldiers not to point their guns at us anymore, and they haven’t done this ever since,” Abu Hashim said.
Along the border down to the nearest Egyptian military point, to the far west right before the coastline, a few wires and poles that would be easy to circumvent separated the two territories. An Egyptian soldier stood there talking over the phone, his voice audible from the Gaza side. However, the security distance seems far greater than the geographic one.
Sgt. Ibrahim Arafat, from the Palestinian National Security Force, has been working at this border point, called al-Azba, for seven years. He told Al-Monitor, “Before, we were friends with Egyptian soldiers. We used to share conversations and have tea together. But now everything has changed. Even officers and soldiers have been replaced.” He also said that sometimes Egyptian tanks are positioned opposite their locations, but without threatening them.
It is worth noting that there is a National Security Force checkpoint every two kilometers (1.2 miles). On the other side, there is an Egyptian watchtower. One can clearly see the buffer zone beyond the Egyptian border standing on the al-Zaarab hill, which is the highest point along the border. We could also spot the empty buildings on the Egyptian side. Military barricades are deployed and soldiers are on the roofs of the buildings, but their guns are not directed toward the Strip.
Al-Monitor obtained information from a Palestinian security source who, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that from July 25 to Sept. 11, there were 27 violations on the part of the Egyptian army. These included firing at fishermen, jets crossing into Palestinian airspace, cheering for Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, taking photos of Palestinian locations and hurling insults.
On the border, near the Karam Abu Salem crossing, Al-Monitor met with a sergeant in the National Security Force who went by the name of Abu Ahmed. He works at the last military point on the eastern border with Egypt, called 5-5. He spoke with a Bedouin accent.
“Less than a month ago, we were shot at from the Egyptian side. We all lay down on the ground,” Abu Ahmed noted, saying that the shots were most likely stray bullets. He stressed that no gunmen from Gaza are allowed to fire at the Egyptian army.
“They say we are affiliated with Hamas or [Izz ad-Din] al-Qassam [Brigades], but we are members of the National Security Force. We have orders not to attack any one of them,” he added.
One leaves the border with the impression that peace prevails and that violations on the part of either side are rare accidents. However, a political decision could change this fact at any moment, as is the case with the region of the tunnels. It was a short while ago a bustling industrial zone, and now it has become a deserted area, except for some dogs lying on dirt piles.
12 oct 2013
The population of Yarmouk refugee camp is dramatically dwindling as residents continue to flee conflict in Syria
Twenty-three thousand Palestinian refugees from Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria have fled to Sweden since the war started, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command said Saturday.
PFLP-GC military leader Khalid Jibril said in a statement that the suffering in Yarmouk has been largely due to the presence of Syrian opposition forces within the camp.
"More than a third of the camp is under the control of the opposition," he said.
The PFLP-GC, a militant organization that has been operating in Syria for decades, has been an active force on the side of the Assad regime since 2012.
Separately, Fatah leader Abbas Zaki told Ma'an Wednesday that Yarmouk's population of 250,000 has dwindled to 18,000 after two and a half years of conflict in Syria.
Over 700,000 Palestinian refugees were forcibly displaced from Palestine as a result of the Arab-Israeli war and the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.
According to UNRWA, there are over 5 million registered Palestinian refugees.
Twenty-three thousand Palestinian refugees from Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria have fled to Sweden since the war started, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command said Saturday.
PFLP-GC military leader Khalid Jibril said in a statement that the suffering in Yarmouk has been largely due to the presence of Syrian opposition forces within the camp.
"More than a third of the camp is under the control of the opposition," he said.
The PFLP-GC, a militant organization that has been operating in Syria for decades, has been an active force on the side of the Assad regime since 2012.
Separately, Fatah leader Abbas Zaki told Ma'an Wednesday that Yarmouk's population of 250,000 has dwindled to 18,000 after two and a half years of conflict in Syria.
Over 700,000 Palestinian refugees were forcibly displaced from Palestine as a result of the Arab-Israeli war and the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.
According to UNRWA, there are over 5 million registered Palestinian refugees.
11 oct 2013
Egyptian security forces in the north of Sinai arrested seven Palestinians who were living in Egypt illegally, a Maan reporter said.
Some of the Palestinian migrants entered Egypt via tunnels under the border with Gaza, sources said. Others overstayed their residency permits, and at least six of them were deported.
The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza has been closed frequently in recent weeks due to political unrest in Egypt and violence in the Sinai peninsula. It closed again on Oct. 5.
Some of the Palestinian migrants entered Egypt via tunnels under the border with Gaza, sources said. Others overstayed their residency permits, and at least six of them were deported.
The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza has been closed frequently in recent weeks due to political unrest in Egypt and violence in the Sinai peninsula. It closed again on Oct. 5.
The head of the fishermen’s union in the Gaza Strip, Nizar Ayyash, said that only 10% of Gaza's fishermen are working (370 out of 3700 fishermen) as a result of the blockade on the Strip by the Israeli occupation and Egyptian restrictions on the southern side of the border. In a speech during a sit in, organized Thursday by the national committee for ending the siege at the Gaza fishing port, Ayyash talked about Israeli occupation's systematic attacks on Palestinian fishermen in Gaza Sea.
“With the ongoing restrictions on the fishing sector, Gaza's fishermen live a very difficult economic situation, lack of income and suffering because of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip."
Ayyash called on human rights organizations to intervene and protect Palestinian fishermen against Israeli occupation forces’ violations.
He also condemned the Egyptian Navy’s detention of five Palestinian fishermen because they were fishing close to Egyptian national waters, adding: "We never expected an Egyptian court would sentence the fishermen to one year imprisonment as well as a fine of 600 Egyptian Pounds."
“With the ongoing restrictions on the fishing sector, Gaza's fishermen live a very difficult economic situation, lack of income and suffering because of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip."
Ayyash called on human rights organizations to intervene and protect Palestinian fishermen against Israeli occupation forces’ violations.
He also condemned the Egyptian Navy’s detention of five Palestinian fishermen because they were fishing close to Egyptian national waters, adding: "We never expected an Egyptian court would sentence the fishermen to one year imprisonment as well as a fine of 600 Egyptian Pounds."
10 oct 2013
The economic situation in the besieged Gaza Strip has been deteriorating following the destruction by Egypt of hundreds of Gaza tunnels.
Press TV - According to reports, the destruction of underground tunnels that served as a lifeline to Gaza has caused a shortage of essential goods in the coastal enclave and hampered daily life.
Permanent Egyptian’s government has demolished nearly 800 tunnels along its border with Gaza since January this year, preventing the people in Gaza from accessing most of their basic goods like food, fuel, and construction materials.
Several Palestinians reportedly lost their lives as they were caught up in the tunnels during destruction operations. Some 1.7 million people in Gaza have been living under Israel’s illegal siege since 2007, a situation that has made them desperately dependent on goods coming through the tunnels.
Several human rights organizations and civil groups have criticized the Egyptian army for preventing the people in Gaza from accessing their basic goods.
The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO), which represents more than 130 Palestinian civil society organizations, has called on the international community to end the “continuous Israeli siege.”
“Gaza is recently suffering from a catastrophic condition due to the continuous Israeli siege for the seventh year. We are calling on the international community in order to act immediately to end the siege,” Amjad Shawa, a PNGO member, said in an interview with Press TV.
Press TV - According to reports, the destruction of underground tunnels that served as a lifeline to Gaza has caused a shortage of essential goods in the coastal enclave and hampered daily life.
Permanent Egyptian’s government has demolished nearly 800 tunnels along its border with Gaza since January this year, preventing the people in Gaza from accessing most of their basic goods like food, fuel, and construction materials.
Several Palestinians reportedly lost their lives as they were caught up in the tunnels during destruction operations. Some 1.7 million people in Gaza have been living under Israel’s illegal siege since 2007, a situation that has made them desperately dependent on goods coming through the tunnels.
Several human rights organizations and civil groups have criticized the Egyptian army for preventing the people in Gaza from accessing their basic goods.
The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO), which represents more than 130 Palestinian civil society organizations, has called on the international community to end the “continuous Israeli siege.”
“Gaza is recently suffering from a catastrophic condition due to the continuous Israeli siege for the seventh year. We are calling on the international community in order to act immediately to end the siege,” Amjad Shawa, a PNGO member, said in an interview with Press TV.
