27 mar 2014
The Egyptian army reportedly destroyed 13 smuggling tunnels near the Rafah border and seized a number of vehicles and other goods that were intended to be smuggled across the border, an Egyptian security source said.
The source said that the army had taken possession of a car and four motorcycles that were intended to be smuggled.
The source added that two people were detained in al-Qantara for intending to smuggle drugs across the border.
After the July coup that deposed president Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's army has repeatedly closed the Rafah border crossing and destroyed hundreds of tunnels that Gazans used for years to import fuel, building materials and other goods.
The Rafah crossing has been the principal connection between Gaza's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since the imposition of an economic blockade by Israel beginning in 2007.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
The source said that the army had taken possession of a car and four motorcycles that were intended to be smuggled.
The source added that two people were detained in al-Qantara for intending to smuggle drugs across the border.
After the July coup that deposed president Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's army has repeatedly closed the Rafah border crossing and destroyed hundreds of tunnels that Gazans used for years to import fuel, building materials and other goods.
The Rafah crossing has been the principal connection between Gaza's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since the imposition of an economic blockade by Israel beginning in 2007.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
25 mar 2014
A relative of a supporter of Mohamed Morsi cries outside the courthouse on March 24, 2014 in the central Egyptian city of Minya, after the court ordered the execution of 529 Morsi supporters
Around 700 supporters of Egypt's ousted president Mohamed Morsi, including the supreme guide of his Muslim Brotherhood movement, were Tuesday due in court, a day after 529 co-defendants were sentenced to death.
The trial of more than 1,200 Islamists in the southern province of Minya comes amid a sweeping crackdown on Morsi's supporters since his overthrow by the army last July.
They are accused of killing two policemen and rioting on August 14, after police killed hundreds of protesters while dispersing two Cairo protest camps.
Monday's largest mass death sentencing in Egypt's modern history came after just two hearings and drew criticism from rights groups, the United States and European Union.
Legal experts said the shock verdict would likely be overturned on appeal because the court had rushed the trial without following the required procedures.
Washington and the European Union expressed concern and questioned the fairness of proceedings against so many defendants lasting just two days.
But Egypt's army-installed interim government defended the court's handling of the case, insisting that the sentences had been handed down only "after careful study" and were subject to appeal.
Of the 529 sentenced on Monday, only 153 are in custody. The rest were tried in their absence and have the right to a retrial if they turn themselves in.
Another 17 defendants were acquitted.
The judgement can be appealed at the Court of Cassation, which would probably order a new trial or reduce the sentences, legal expert Gamal Eid said.
"This sentencing is a catastrophe and a travesty and a scandal that will affect Egypt for many years," said Eid, who heads the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.
Speed of trial criticized
Washington questioned how the court could have given the defendants a fair hearing in a trial that spanned just two days -- an opening session on Saturday and Monday's sentencing.
"It sort of defies logic," said Marie Harf, deputy US State Department spokeswoman, adding that Washington was "deeply concerned" and "shocked."
"Obviously the defendants can appeal, but it simply does not seem possible that a fair review of evidence and testimony consistent with international standards could be accomplished with over 529 defendants in a two-day trial," Harf said.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said "capital punishment can never be justified" and urged Egyptian authorities to grant defendants "the right to a fair and timely trial."
Defense counsel Mohamed Tousson charged that the judge had rushed to sentencing on Monday after being angered by a lawyer's request for his recusal at Saturday's opening hearing.
"He got very angry, and adjourned the trial for sentencing," Tousson said. "It's a huge violation of defendants' rights."
The foreign ministry defended the court's handling of the trial, saying that the sentences had been "issued by an independent court after careful study of the case."
It said the Egyptian judiciary was "entirely independent and is not influenced in any way by the executive branch of government."
Amnesty International said it was the "largest single batch of simultaneous death sentences we've seen in recent years, not just in Egypt but anywhere in the world," and called for the verdicts to be quashed.
The Muslim Brotherhood said the death sentences were yet "another indication that the corrupt judiciary is being used by the coup commanders to suppress the Egyptian revolution and install a brutal regime."
At least 1,400 people have been killed in the crackdown on Morsi's supporters and thousands more arrested, according to Amnesty International.
Morsi is himself currently on trial in three different cases. The army removed Egypt's first freely elected president after a single year in power following mass protests demanding his resignation.
Around 700 supporters of Egypt's ousted president Mohamed Morsi, including the supreme guide of his Muslim Brotherhood movement, were Tuesday due in court, a day after 529 co-defendants were sentenced to death.
The trial of more than 1,200 Islamists in the southern province of Minya comes amid a sweeping crackdown on Morsi's supporters since his overthrow by the army last July.
They are accused of killing two policemen and rioting on August 14, after police killed hundreds of protesters while dispersing two Cairo protest camps.
Monday's largest mass death sentencing in Egypt's modern history came after just two hearings and drew criticism from rights groups, the United States and European Union.
Legal experts said the shock verdict would likely be overturned on appeal because the court had rushed the trial without following the required procedures.
Washington and the European Union expressed concern and questioned the fairness of proceedings against so many defendants lasting just two days.
But Egypt's army-installed interim government defended the court's handling of the case, insisting that the sentences had been handed down only "after careful study" and were subject to appeal.
Of the 529 sentenced on Monday, only 153 are in custody. The rest were tried in their absence and have the right to a retrial if they turn themselves in.
Another 17 defendants were acquitted.
The judgement can be appealed at the Court of Cassation, which would probably order a new trial or reduce the sentences, legal expert Gamal Eid said.
"This sentencing is a catastrophe and a travesty and a scandal that will affect Egypt for many years," said Eid, who heads the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.
Speed of trial criticized
Washington questioned how the court could have given the defendants a fair hearing in a trial that spanned just two days -- an opening session on Saturday and Monday's sentencing.
"It sort of defies logic," said Marie Harf, deputy US State Department spokeswoman, adding that Washington was "deeply concerned" and "shocked."
"Obviously the defendants can appeal, but it simply does not seem possible that a fair review of evidence and testimony consistent with international standards could be accomplished with over 529 defendants in a two-day trial," Harf said.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said "capital punishment can never be justified" and urged Egyptian authorities to grant defendants "the right to a fair and timely trial."
Defense counsel Mohamed Tousson charged that the judge had rushed to sentencing on Monday after being angered by a lawyer's request for his recusal at Saturday's opening hearing.
"He got very angry, and adjourned the trial for sentencing," Tousson said. "It's a huge violation of defendants' rights."
The foreign ministry defended the court's handling of the trial, saying that the sentences had been "issued by an independent court after careful study of the case."
It said the Egyptian judiciary was "entirely independent and is not influenced in any way by the executive branch of government."
Amnesty International said it was the "largest single batch of simultaneous death sentences we've seen in recent years, not just in Egypt but anywhere in the world," and called for the verdicts to be quashed.
The Muslim Brotherhood said the death sentences were yet "another indication that the corrupt judiciary is being used by the coup commanders to suppress the Egyptian revolution and install a brutal regime."
At least 1,400 people have been killed in the crackdown on Morsi's supporters and thousands more arrested, according to Amnesty International.
Morsi is himself currently on trial in three different cases. The army removed Egypt's first freely elected president after a single year in power following mass protests demanding his resignation.
24 mar 2014
Egyptians pass by burnt vehicles outside the destroyed camp of ousted Morsi supporters on Aug. 15 in Cairo
A court in Egypt on Monday sentenced 529 supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to death after a mass trial, judicial sources said.
Islamist backers of Morsi are facing a deadly crackdown launched by the military-installed authorities since his ouster in July, with hundreds of people killed and thousands arrested.
The sentence was delivered in the second hearing of a trial which began on Saturday in Minya, south of the capital.
Of those sentenced, 153 are in detention and the rest are on the run, the sources said, adding that 17 others were acquitted. The verdict can be appealed.
Those sentenced are among more than 1,200 Morsi supporters on trial in Minya. A second group of about 700 defendants will be in the dock on Tuesday.
They are accused of attacking both people and public property in southern Egypt in August, after security forces broke up two Cairo protest camps set up by Morsi supporters on August 14.
They are also charged with committing acts of violence that led to the deaths of two policemen in Minya, judicial sources said.
The accused include several leaders of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, including its supreme guide Mohamed Badie.
Morsi, Egypt's first elected and civilian president, was ousted by the army on July 3 in a move that triggered widespread unrest across the deeply polarized nation.
Hundreds of people died in the August assault on the two Cairo protest camps and in subsequent clashes that day.
Rights group Amnesty International says at least 1,400 people have been killed in violence across Egypt since then, and thousands more have been arrested.
Morsi is himself currently on trial in three different cases, including one for inciting the killing of protesters outside a presidential palace while he was in office.
Morsi was removed after just 12 months as president following mass street protests against his rule amid allegations of power grabbing and worsening an already weak economy.
A court in Egypt on Monday sentenced 529 supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to death after a mass trial, judicial sources said.
Islamist backers of Morsi are facing a deadly crackdown launched by the military-installed authorities since his ouster in July, with hundreds of people killed and thousands arrested.
The sentence was delivered in the second hearing of a trial which began on Saturday in Minya, south of the capital.
Of those sentenced, 153 are in detention and the rest are on the run, the sources said, adding that 17 others were acquitted. The verdict can be appealed.
Those sentenced are among more than 1,200 Morsi supporters on trial in Minya. A second group of about 700 defendants will be in the dock on Tuesday.
They are accused of attacking both people and public property in southern Egypt in August, after security forces broke up two Cairo protest camps set up by Morsi supporters on August 14.
They are also charged with committing acts of violence that led to the deaths of two policemen in Minya, judicial sources said.
The accused include several leaders of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, including its supreme guide Mohamed Badie.
Morsi, Egypt's first elected and civilian president, was ousted by the army on July 3 in a move that triggered widespread unrest across the deeply polarized nation.
Hundreds of people died in the August assault on the two Cairo protest camps and in subsequent clashes that day.
Rights group Amnesty International says at least 1,400 people have been killed in violence across Egypt since then, and thousands more have been arrested.
Morsi is himself currently on trial in three different cases, including one for inciting the killing of protesters outside a presidential palace while he was in office.
Morsi was removed after just 12 months as president following mass street protests against his rule amid allegations of power grabbing and worsening an already weak economy.
23 mar 2014
Member of Hamas' political bureau Mahmoud Al-Zahhar categorically denied that his Movement has ever interfered in the internal affairs of the Fatah Movement. In remarks to Al-Aqsa satellite channel on Saturday, Zahhar said that the differences between de facto president Mahmoud Abbas and former Fatah official Mohamed Dahlan proved that Hamas is innocent of all accusations made against it.
He explained that the renewed dispute between Abbas and Dahlan proved that Hamas is innocent of causing the inter-Palestinian division, undermining Makkah agreement, and many other accusations, including its interference in Egypt's internal events.
The Hamas official called for dealing legally with the wrangling between Abbas and Dahlan and looking into all allegations made by both sides in a court of law.
He accused Fatah figures of being behind the accusations leveled by Egyptian parties against Hamas.
He explained that the renewed dispute between Abbas and Dahlan proved that Hamas is innocent of causing the inter-Palestinian division, undermining Makkah agreement, and many other accusations, including its interference in Egypt's internal events.
The Hamas official called for dealing legally with the wrangling between Abbas and Dahlan and looking into all allegations made by both sides in a court of law.
He accused Fatah figures of being behind the accusations leveled by Egyptian parties against Hamas.
20 mar 2014
Dozens of Palestinian women have staged Wednesday a sit-in outside Egyptian embassy in Gaza calling for the opening of Rafah crossing and ending Gaza siege. The participants considered the Egyptian decision to close Rafah crossing and to prevent construction materials and medicines' access to the Strip as a participation in tightening the unfair Israeli siege.
The participants called on Egyptian authorities to open Rafah border crossing that is still closed for 40 consecutive days, saying that history will not have mercy on those who are involved in Gaza siege.
The protesters called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League and international community to intervene immediately to break the siege before it is too late in light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The participants held banners and chanted slogans condemning the continued closure of Rafah crossing and calling for its opening.
The sit-in was organized by Women's Union in Hamas movement.
The Egyptian authorities have continued to close the Rafah crossing for forty days in a row, preventing patients and students' urgent travel.
Meanwhile, Egyptian students have demonstrated in Cairo University on Thursday protesting Israeli continued violations against Palestinian people.
In a statement published in the Seventh Day Egyptian newspaper, the students confirmed that the demonstration came in response to Israeli escalated violations and Judaization policy in occupied Jerusalem and the continued unfair siege on Gaza Strip.
The participants called on Egyptian authorities to open Rafah border crossing that is still closed for 40 consecutive days, saying that history will not have mercy on those who are involved in Gaza siege.
The protesters called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League and international community to intervene immediately to break the siege before it is too late in light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The participants held banners and chanted slogans condemning the continued closure of Rafah crossing and calling for its opening.
The sit-in was organized by Women's Union in Hamas movement.
The Egyptian authorities have continued to close the Rafah crossing for forty days in a row, preventing patients and students' urgent travel.
Meanwhile, Egyptian students have demonstrated in Cairo University on Thursday protesting Israeli continued violations against Palestinian people.
In a statement published in the Seventh Day Egyptian newspaper, the students confirmed that the demonstration came in response to Israeli escalated violations and Judaization policy in occupied Jerusalem and the continued unfair siege on Gaza Strip.
Israeli Haaretz newspaper reported that Egyptian army officers and officials from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited Tel Aviv last week with the aim of strengthening cooperation between Israel and the new regime in Egypt. A senior Israeli official was quoted as saying that the delegation was in Tel Aviv for a week, holding meetings, hearing reviews of the security situation and even touring various areas.
The paper reported that the Israeli government urged the U.S. administration and senior Congressmen to supply the Egyptian army with ten advanced Apache combat helicopters
"Israel clarified that supplying the helicopters is crucial to Egypt’s fight against jihadist organizations in the Sinai, and will improve regional security", Haaretz stated.
The Israeli official told the newspaper that Israel’s ambassador to Washington Ron Dermer and other embassy diplomats talked about the matter with high-ranking U.S. officials in the past week.
He said "Israel is seeking to persuade the U.S. administration and senior Congressmen to reconsider an earlier decision to freeze aid to Egypt, including the sale of advanced Apache combat helicopters."
Relations of security cooperation between Cairo and Tel Aviv have seen a marked improvement following the Egyptian army's ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi last July.
The paper reported that the Israeli government urged the U.S. administration and senior Congressmen to supply the Egyptian army with ten advanced Apache combat helicopters
"Israel clarified that supplying the helicopters is crucial to Egypt’s fight against jihadist organizations in the Sinai, and will improve regional security", Haaretz stated.
The Israeli official told the newspaper that Israel’s ambassador to Washington Ron Dermer and other embassy diplomats talked about the matter with high-ranking U.S. officials in the past week.
He said "Israel is seeking to persuade the U.S. administration and senior Congressmen to reconsider an earlier decision to freeze aid to Egypt, including the sale of advanced Apache combat helicopters."
Relations of security cooperation between Cairo and Tel Aviv have seen a marked improvement following the Egyptian army's ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi last July.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s latest speech against dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan aimed to prevent a strong Egyptian median to reconcile between them,“Alquds Alaraby” newspaper said. According to an authorized source, the newspaper said that Abbas allowed, for the first time, his speech to be aired on the Palestinian official TV channel without any cut although it came during a closed meeting for Fatah members.
Abbas received many letters recently, transferred by Palestinian officials who visited the capital of Egypt, Cairo, calling him to launch a reconciliation with Dahlan and let him rejoin Fatah, the sources confirmed.
The sources added that Abbas’s latest speech created a state of dissatisfaction among Egyptian circles. This justified Dahlan’s appearance on Egyptian Dream TV channel to post a series of accusations against Abbas.
Abbas dismissed Dahlan -- who was accused of engineering a coup with US support that led to a counter-coup by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2007 -- from Fatah's central committee in 2010. He had previously been in charge of the security forces in Gaza.
In a speech in front of the Fatah council, Abbas accused Dahlan of being involved in the murder of six outstanding Palestinian leaders including Seikh Shehadah of Hamas.
Abbas received many letters recently, transferred by Palestinian officials who visited the capital of Egypt, Cairo, calling him to launch a reconciliation with Dahlan and let him rejoin Fatah, the sources confirmed.
The sources added that Abbas’s latest speech created a state of dissatisfaction among Egyptian circles. This justified Dahlan’s appearance on Egyptian Dream TV channel to post a series of accusations against Abbas.
Abbas dismissed Dahlan -- who was accused of engineering a coup with US support that led to a counter-coup by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2007 -- from Fatah's central committee in 2010. He had previously been in charge of the security forces in Gaza.
In a speech in front of the Fatah council, Abbas accused Dahlan of being involved in the murder of six outstanding Palestinian leaders including Seikh Shehadah of Hamas.
19 mar 2014
Ahmad Assaf
Egyptian security forces arrested two people on Wednesday on suspicion of attempting to assault Fatah spokesman Ahmad Assaf in Cairo, Fatah said.
"Assaf filed an official complaint to the Egyptian authorities about the crime of attempting to assault him," Fatah said in a statement.
Two unidentified men were arrested and taken to Abdeen Police station in Cairo on suspicion of attempting to assault Assaf while he was on his way to a press conference, the statement added.
The men had reportedly received orders to carry out the attack from dismissed Fatah strongman Muhammad Dahlan, Fatah claimed.
The reported attempt comes amid a public spat between the controversial figure and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas.
Dahlan said in an interview on Egyptian television on Sunday that Abbas' rule had been a "catastrophe" for Palestine. Abbas had earlier accused Dahlan of having ordered six murders while a security official and suggested he may have been involved in Yasser Arafat's death.
Abbas dismissed Dahlan -- who was accused of engineering a coup with US support that led to a counter-coup by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2007 -- from Fatah's central committee in 2010. He had previously been in charge of the security forces in Gaza.
Egyptian security forces arrested two people on Wednesday on suspicion of attempting to assault Fatah spokesman Ahmad Assaf in Cairo, Fatah said.
"Assaf filed an official complaint to the Egyptian authorities about the crime of attempting to assault him," Fatah said in a statement.
Two unidentified men were arrested and taken to Abdeen Police station in Cairo on suspicion of attempting to assault Assaf while he was on his way to a press conference, the statement added.
The men had reportedly received orders to carry out the attack from dismissed Fatah strongman Muhammad Dahlan, Fatah claimed.
The reported attempt comes amid a public spat between the controversial figure and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas.
Dahlan said in an interview on Egyptian television on Sunday that Abbas' rule had been a "catastrophe" for Palestine. Abbas had earlier accused Dahlan of having ordered six murders while a security official and suggested he may have been involved in Yasser Arafat's death.
Abbas dismissed Dahlan -- who was accused of engineering a coup with US support that led to a counter-coup by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2007 -- from Fatah's central committee in 2010. He had previously been in charge of the security forces in Gaza.
18 mar 2014
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum described Egyptian authorities' decision to close Rafah crossing and to tighten Gaza siege, preventing fuel, medicine and aid supplies' access without any justification and depriving thousands of patients of treatment as a crime against humanity. Barhoum warned that the continued closure of Rafah crossing coupled with the Israeli siege and aggression would affect all life aspects in the besieged Strip.
Hamas senior official held Israeli and Egyptian authorities responsible for Gazans' suffering, calling for staging popular sit-ins outside embassies of all parties taking part in tightening Gaza siege.
He also called for more convoys to break the siege on Gaza via all crossings to put an end to Palestinians' suffering in Gaza.
Three patients, including a three-month-old baby, died after being prevented from traveling abroad for treatment due to the continued closure of Rafah crossing for eight months; in addition 450 patients have been deprived of traveling for treatment in Egyptian hospitals, which led to their health deterioration.
Hamas senior official held Israeli and Egyptian authorities responsible for Gazans' suffering, calling for staging popular sit-ins outside embassies of all parties taking part in tightening Gaza siege.
He also called for more convoys to break the siege on Gaza via all crossings to put an end to Palestinians' suffering in Gaza.
Three patients, including a three-month-old baby, died after being prevented from traveling abroad for treatment due to the continued closure of Rafah crossing for eight months; in addition 450 patients have been deprived of traveling for treatment in Egyptian hospitals, which led to their health deterioration.
Scores of Palestinian university students on Monday staged a demonstration outside the Egyptian embassy's former headquarters in Gaza to protest the ongoing closure by Egyptian authorities of the Rafah border crossing, which links the Gaza Strip to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Protesters called for lifting Israel's years-long blockade on Gaza and for reopening the flashpoint crossing to Gazan university students who study abroad.
"We can't find an explanation for Egypt's decision to tighten the noose around Gaza," said Abdel-Rahman Mehana, head of the students union at Gaza's Islamic University, who attended Monday's protest.
"How can students who want to complete their studies pose a threat to Egypt's national security?" he asked.
Other demonstrators carried banners calling to lift the siege on Gaza, which has remained in place since 2006.
Egypt has tightened its grip on the border with Gaza since last July's ouster of Mohamed Morsi – the country's first freely elected president – by the army.
Egyptian authorities accuse Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, of interfering in Egypt's domestic affairs and carrying out terrorist activities in Egypt.
Hamas spokesmen emphatically deny the allegations.
Source: AA
"We can't find an explanation for Egypt's decision to tighten the noose around Gaza," said Abdel-Rahman Mehana, head of the students union at Gaza's Islamic University, who attended Monday's protest.
"How can students who want to complete their studies pose a threat to Egypt's national security?" he asked.
Other demonstrators carried banners calling to lift the siege on Gaza, which has remained in place since 2006.
Egypt has tightened its grip on the border with Gaza since last July's ouster of Mohamed Morsi – the country's first freely elected president – by the army.
Egyptian authorities accuse Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, of interfering in Egypt's domestic affairs and carrying out terrorist activities in Egypt.
Hamas spokesmen emphatically deny the allegations.
Source: AA
The Egyptian authorities have maintained closure of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza Strip for the 39th day running in total disregard of humanitarian cases. Maher Abu Sabha, the director of crossings and borders, said in a press statement on Monday that the Egyptian side did not inform his department of its intention to open the crossing in the near future.
He said that the Egyptian authorities were closign the crossing without giving any reason for the procedure, adding that the long period of closure had negatively affected people wishing to travel outside the Strip or return to it.
The Egyptian authorities maintained the closure of the Rafah border terminal since the ouster of president Mohammed Morsi on 3rd July last year and only opened it only for few days for the sick people, students, and holders of foreign passports.
He said that the Egyptian authorities were closign the crossing without giving any reason for the procedure, adding that the long period of closure had negatively affected people wishing to travel outside the Strip or return to it.
The Egyptian authorities maintained the closure of the Rafah border terminal since the ouster of president Mohammed Morsi on 3rd July last year and only opened it only for few days for the sick people, students, and holders of foreign passports.
17 mar 2014
By/Fedaa al-Qedra
"You would never let my baby die if someone could save him" a Palestinian mother launched her appeals to touch the passionate hearts on the other side of the Gaza border hoping to save her child's life who was about to die after grave deterioration in his health .
Ahmed Abu Nahel a three-month-old baby spent more time in bed than in his mother's chest because he was suffering of enlarged heart and liver and weakness in heart muscle.
The baby was receiving his treatment at al-Rantisi hospital in Gaza but the lack of medicines and medical equipment made Gaza's doctors unable to help him.
The Palestinian doctors in Gaza decided to transfer him to get treatment in the Israeli hospitals but the Israelis refused to receive him due to the serious deterioration in his condition.
The Palestinian doctors contacted Turkish hospitals to receive Ahmed. They accepted to receive him but the tightened closure of Rafah crossing prevented him from travelling.
The child's health couldn’t bear to wait any more. Ahmed was seriously threatened by death.
The National Committee to Break the Siege sent appeals to the Egyptian authorities to open the border, "Ahmed is dying", "Save him", and his mum was crying "Please don’t let my baby die in my hands, I could do nothing ." But no one answered their calls.
We were all waiting what the time would tell us. Would Ahmed wait and be saved or die ?
Actually something happened and I have to tell you . His small heart couldn’t bear more …Ahmed died.
The illegal and inhumane blockade is destroying our future. Every time someone dies.
Rafah and Israeli border crossings are almost always closed. This situation led to a humanitarian catastrophe .
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health more than 145 types of medicine ran out of stock and more than one thousand patients couldn't reach to the Egyptian hospitals. That means death threatens their lives and they may join the list of the siege victims.
The story of Ahmed is one out of hundreds. His story ended but the pain of thousands of patient children in Gaza is still continuing .
They need medication … life .. Will the humanity respond?
Ahmed's soul was a letter to the world to help lift the unjust siege imposed on the narrow costal enclave. Don’t let us die ..Open the door of the biggest open air prison and let us live.
"You would never let my baby die if someone could save him" a Palestinian mother launched her appeals to touch the passionate hearts on the other side of the Gaza border hoping to save her child's life who was about to die after grave deterioration in his health .
Ahmed Abu Nahel a three-month-old baby spent more time in bed than in his mother's chest because he was suffering of enlarged heart and liver and weakness in heart muscle.
The baby was receiving his treatment at al-Rantisi hospital in Gaza but the lack of medicines and medical equipment made Gaza's doctors unable to help him.
The Palestinian doctors in Gaza decided to transfer him to get treatment in the Israeli hospitals but the Israelis refused to receive him due to the serious deterioration in his condition.
The Palestinian doctors contacted Turkish hospitals to receive Ahmed. They accepted to receive him but the tightened closure of Rafah crossing prevented him from travelling.
The child's health couldn’t bear to wait any more. Ahmed was seriously threatened by death.
The National Committee to Break the Siege sent appeals to the Egyptian authorities to open the border, "Ahmed is dying", "Save him", and his mum was crying "Please don’t let my baby die in my hands, I could do nothing ." But no one answered their calls.
We were all waiting what the time would tell us. Would Ahmed wait and be saved or die ?
Actually something happened and I have to tell you . His small heart couldn’t bear more …Ahmed died.
The illegal and inhumane blockade is destroying our future. Every time someone dies.
Rafah and Israeli border crossings are almost always closed. This situation led to a humanitarian catastrophe .
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health more than 145 types of medicine ran out of stock and more than one thousand patients couldn't reach to the Egyptian hospitals. That means death threatens their lives and they may join the list of the siege victims.
The story of Ahmed is one out of hundreds. His story ended but the pain of thousands of patient children in Gaza is still continuing .
They need medication … life .. Will the humanity respond?
Ahmed's soul was a letter to the world to help lift the unjust siege imposed on the narrow costal enclave. Don’t let us die ..Open the door of the biggest open air prison and let us live.
Spokesperson of Hamas, Fawzi Barhoum
Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas condemned the ongoing closure of Rafah crossing for the 36th day in a row, compared to the facilities offered to the Israelis to travel via Taba crossing. Spokesperson of Hamas, Fawzi Barhoum, said Sunday on his Facebook page that “the Egyptian side tightens the closure of Rafah crossing, the only crossing into Gaza, for the 36th day in a row and turns Gaza into a big open air prison.”
Barhoum added in a message to the Egyptian side “ you open Taba crossing widely for the Israelis and Israeli officers amid unprecedented facilities to enter Egypt with grace and dignity."
Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas condemned the ongoing closure of Rafah crossing for the 36th day in a row, compared to the facilities offered to the Israelis to travel via Taba crossing. Spokesperson of Hamas, Fawzi Barhoum, said Sunday on his Facebook page that “the Egyptian side tightens the closure of Rafah crossing, the only crossing into Gaza, for the 36th day in a row and turns Gaza into a big open air prison.”
Barhoum added in a message to the Egyptian side “ you open Taba crossing widely for the Israelis and Israeli officers amid unprecedented facilities to enter Egypt with grace and dignity."
Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza warned that the continued closure of Rafah crossing would increase the number of those dying because of lack of proper treatment in the besieged Strip. It clarified that the number of patients who are in need to receive medical care abroad due to the acute lack of medical supplies in the besieged Strip was on the rise.
The Palestinian Minister of Health in Gaza, Dr. Mufid Al-Mukhalalati, confirmed the death of three patients, including a three-month-old child, who were prevented from traveling abroad for treatment due to the continued closure of Rafah crossing for eight months.
Since the closure of Rafah crossing, 450 patients have been deprived of traveling for treatment in Egyptian hospitals, which led to their health deterioration, he said.
He expressed deep concern over the deterioration of health ministry condition and the acute shortage of medical supplies in addition to the ban on medical delegations' access due to the Israeli siege imposed on the Strip in 2007.
The minister said that the continued closure of Rafah crossing led to an acute shortage in medical supplies of up to 145 types which constitute 30 per cent of the basic medicines. 80% of Health ministry construction projects were halted as a result of the tightened Israeli siege, he added.
Meanwhile, the National Committee to Break the Siege has called on Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing before patients seeking medical care abroad, foreign residents or residents of Gaza with foreign visas including students.
During a vigil outside Egyptian embassy on Sunday, The committee member Adham Abu Salamiya said that the continued closure of the crossing has increased the suffering of about two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who are isolated from the outside world.
“We demand the opening of Rafah crossing before the difficult humanitarian cases who have been trapped for more than eight consecutive years”, he said, noting that thousands of students are deprived from completing their education abroad.
Egypt's army has repeatedly closed the Rafah border crossing since last July while simultaneously destroying hundreds of tunnels that Gazans used for years to import fuel, building materials, and basic human needs.
The Rafah crossing into Egypt has been the sole link between the Gaza Strip's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since the Israeli siege in 2007.
The Palestinian Minister of Health in Gaza, Dr. Mufid Al-Mukhalalati, confirmed the death of three patients, including a three-month-old child, who were prevented from traveling abroad for treatment due to the continued closure of Rafah crossing for eight months.
Since the closure of Rafah crossing, 450 patients have been deprived of traveling for treatment in Egyptian hospitals, which led to their health deterioration, he said.
He expressed deep concern over the deterioration of health ministry condition and the acute shortage of medical supplies in addition to the ban on medical delegations' access due to the Israeli siege imposed on the Strip in 2007.
The minister said that the continued closure of Rafah crossing led to an acute shortage in medical supplies of up to 145 types which constitute 30 per cent of the basic medicines. 80% of Health ministry construction projects were halted as a result of the tightened Israeli siege, he added.
Meanwhile, the National Committee to Break the Siege has called on Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing before patients seeking medical care abroad, foreign residents or residents of Gaza with foreign visas including students.
During a vigil outside Egyptian embassy on Sunday, The committee member Adham Abu Salamiya said that the continued closure of the crossing has increased the suffering of about two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who are isolated from the outside world.
“We demand the opening of Rafah crossing before the difficult humanitarian cases who have been trapped for more than eight consecutive years”, he said, noting that thousands of students are deprived from completing their education abroad.
Egypt's army has repeatedly closed the Rafah border crossing since last July while simultaneously destroying hundreds of tunnels that Gazans used for years to import fuel, building materials, and basic human needs.
The Rafah crossing into Egypt has been the sole link between the Gaza Strip's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since the Israeli siege in 2007.
