21 apr 2014

An Israeli army soldier was injured by mistake on Sunday when his jeep came under cross border fire by Egyptian forces on Sunday night.
Walla Hebrew website said that the Egyptian army troops were chasing smugglers near the borders and fired at them, adding that the soldier was wounded by a stray bullet.
In a related incident, the Israeli army radio said that the soldiers aborted an attempt to smuggle explosive devices on Sunday night.
Walla Hebrew website said that the Egyptian army troops were chasing smugglers near the borders and fired at them, adding that the soldier was wounded by a stray bullet.
In a related incident, the Israeli army radio said that the soldiers aborted an attempt to smuggle explosive devices on Sunday night.
20 apr 2014

Egypt's Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip has only been open for 12 days so far this year, Gaza's Interior Ministry said Friday. In a statement, ministry spokesman Eyad al-Bazm said Egyptian authorities were keeping the crossing shut "without stating the reasons."
Due to an eight-year-long Israeli embargo on the Gaza Strip, the Rafah border crossing – which links the strip to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula – represents Gaza's only window to the outside world.
Al-Bazm also called on international legal and humanitarian agencies to pressure Egypt to reopen the crossing with a view to "ending the suffering of thousands of Palestinians in the enclave."
Egyptian authorities have tightened their grip on the border with the Hamas-run the Gaza Strip since last July, when the army ousted elected president Mohamed Morsi and cracked down on his Hamas-linked Muslim Brotherhood group.
Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007.
By: TurkishPress
Due to an eight-year-long Israeli embargo on the Gaza Strip, the Rafah border crossing – which links the strip to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula – represents Gaza's only window to the outside world.
Al-Bazm also called on international legal and humanitarian agencies to pressure Egypt to reopen the crossing with a view to "ending the suffering of thousands of Palestinians in the enclave."
Egyptian authorities have tightened their grip on the border with the Hamas-run the Gaza Strip since last July, when the army ousted elected president Mohamed Morsi and cracked down on his Hamas-linked Muslim Brotherhood group.
Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007.
By: TurkishPress
18 apr 2014

The Egyptian prosecution have released on Thursday Palestinian and Syria refugees after being arrested while trying to reach Europe from Egyptian beaches.
The Action Group for the Palestinians in Syria confirmed that Alexandria prosecution released 25 illegal immigrants, including 21 Syrians, while Dekheila prosecution released 6 Palestinians and Syrians.
The Egyptian media sources have earlier revealed the arrest of 25 persons while trying to emigrate from Alexandria shores to Italy.
Regarding Palestinian refugee camps, the group affirmed that Yarmouk camp is still subjected to unfair siege for 279 consecutive days, where Syrian regime forces and armed groups are still preventing the entry of aid and medical supplies.
More than 144 Palestinian refugees died of starvation in Yarmouk Refugee Camp.
In Damascus, Khan Sheikh Refugee Camp has been subjected to heavy shelling, causing a state of panic among the refugees, while the refugee Ali Ghali was killed in Aidin refugee camp in Homs.
The Action Group for the Palestinians in Syria confirmed that Alexandria prosecution released 25 illegal immigrants, including 21 Syrians, while Dekheila prosecution released 6 Palestinians and Syrians.
The Egyptian media sources have earlier revealed the arrest of 25 persons while trying to emigrate from Alexandria shores to Italy.
Regarding Palestinian refugee camps, the group affirmed that Yarmouk camp is still subjected to unfair siege for 279 consecutive days, where Syrian regime forces and armed groups are still preventing the entry of aid and medical supplies.
More than 144 Palestinian refugees died of starvation in Yarmouk Refugee Camp.
In Damascus, Khan Sheikh Refugee Camp has been subjected to heavy shelling, causing a state of panic among the refugees, while the refugee Ali Ghali was killed in Aidin refugee camp in Homs.
17 apr 2014

PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, met on Tuesday with Wael Attia, the newly appointed Egyptian ambassador to the State of Palestine, at the PLO headquarters in Ramallah, and welcomed him to Palestine.
In the meeting, Dr. Ashrawi reaffirmed Egypt's role in the Middle East and the importance of supporting the Palestinian cause and maintaining the special relationship that binds both the Palestinian and Egyptian people.
Dr. Ashrawi and Mr. Attia discussed the recent political developments in Palestine with a focus on Israel's continued breach of international humanitarian law, particularly its violations in and around Jerusalem and its flagrant attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its Muslim worshippers.
In the context of regional developments, Dr. Ashrawi stressed the need for Palestine to consolidate Arab support both politically and financially, especially since Israel is imposing sanctions on the Palestinians for signing letters of accession to 15 multilateral treaties and conventions. She described recent Palestinian actions as "a milestone in fulfilling the requirements of self-determination and freedom and in promoting and safeguarding the basic rights of the Palestinian people."
The meeting concluded with Palestinian reconciliation status and efforts, as well issues of mutual cooperation.
In the meeting, Dr. Ashrawi reaffirmed Egypt's role in the Middle East and the importance of supporting the Palestinian cause and maintaining the special relationship that binds both the Palestinian and Egyptian people.
Dr. Ashrawi and Mr. Attia discussed the recent political developments in Palestine with a focus on Israel's continued breach of international humanitarian law, particularly its violations in and around Jerusalem and its flagrant attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its Muslim worshippers.
In the context of regional developments, Dr. Ashrawi stressed the need for Palestine to consolidate Arab support both politically and financially, especially since Israel is imposing sanctions on the Palestinians for signing letters of accession to 15 multilateral treaties and conventions. She described recent Palestinian actions as "a milestone in fulfilling the requirements of self-determination and freedom and in promoting and safeguarding the basic rights of the Palestinian people."
The meeting concluded with Palestinian reconciliation status and efforts, as well issues of mutual cooperation.
16 apr 2014

Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh called on Egyptian authorities to open the border to the Gaza Strip around the clock for individuals and goods, and to allow the entry of all goods and materials needed to complete the Qatar Grant Projects.
Haniyeh said during a news conference through his round at Hamad City on Wednesday," the implementation of these projects which transferred the previous Israeli occupation settlements to green yields is a message of Palestinians to the world that they are able to build and liberate their lands," Haniyeh said.
He emphasized that the Qatar projects formed a quantum and civilized leap for the Gaza Strip, especially through the ongoing siege imposed on Gaza to prove that Gaza challenges this unjust siege by its people's steadfastness and the supporters of the Palestinian issue. He thanked all countries that support the Palestinian people and appreciated Qatar's role in supporting the Palestinian issue.
Haniyeh called on the Arabs and international world to continue their political and public efforts to bring the Israeli-imposed siege to an end.
This round gains its importance because it is considered a challenge message against the siege that failed to break the steadfastness of Palestinians amid tightening the closure of the crossings and continuing preventing the entry of construction materials and food to the besieged enclave.
Haniyeh said during a news conference through his round at Hamad City on Wednesday," the implementation of these projects which transferred the previous Israeli occupation settlements to green yields is a message of Palestinians to the world that they are able to build and liberate their lands," Haniyeh said.
He emphasized that the Qatar projects formed a quantum and civilized leap for the Gaza Strip, especially through the ongoing siege imposed on Gaza to prove that Gaza challenges this unjust siege by its people's steadfastness and the supporters of the Palestinian issue. He thanked all countries that support the Palestinian people and appreciated Qatar's role in supporting the Palestinian issue.
Haniyeh called on the Arabs and international world to continue their political and public efforts to bring the Israeli-imposed siege to an end.
This round gains its importance because it is considered a challenge message against the siege that failed to break the steadfastness of Palestinians amid tightening the closure of the crossings and continuing preventing the entry of construction materials and food to the besieged enclave.
15 apr 2014

Head of the ICRC mission in Gaza Christian Cardon
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Monday warned of a collapse of humanitarian services in the Gaza Strip due to eight years of Israeli blockade. Head of the ICRC mission in Gaza Christian Cardon said the tightening restrictions imposed on the movement of goods and individuals from and into the Gaza Strip "are ringing a bell".
He warned that the Israeli measures and the ongoing Egyptian closure of the Rafah border crossing point with Gaza "are worrying and will influence the humanitarian situation in the territory".
The Gaza Strip, an impoverished and densely populated coastal enclave ruled by Hamas, has been under a tight Israeli blockade after Hamas won the election in 2006. Free movement of goods, products and individuals is restricted.
Egypt has kept the Rafah border crossing closed after the deposition of the elected president Mohamed Morsi in early July last year, and opened it temporarily for humanitarian cases.
Egypt has also destroyed thousands of tunnels dug by the Palestinians to escape the Israeli blockade, which has badly affected people's daily life in Gaza.
"The lack of all materials, mainly construction materials and fuels, in addition to the lack of goods and high prices, I think thus will certainly affect the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip," Cardon said.
ALRAY contributed to this
Source: BS
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Monday warned of a collapse of humanitarian services in the Gaza Strip due to eight years of Israeli blockade. Head of the ICRC mission in Gaza Christian Cardon said the tightening restrictions imposed on the movement of goods and individuals from and into the Gaza Strip "are ringing a bell".
He warned that the Israeli measures and the ongoing Egyptian closure of the Rafah border crossing point with Gaza "are worrying and will influence the humanitarian situation in the territory".
The Gaza Strip, an impoverished and densely populated coastal enclave ruled by Hamas, has been under a tight Israeli blockade after Hamas won the election in 2006. Free movement of goods, products and individuals is restricted.
Egypt has kept the Rafah border crossing closed after the deposition of the elected president Mohamed Morsi in early July last year, and opened it temporarily for humanitarian cases.
Egypt has also destroyed thousands of tunnels dug by the Palestinians to escape the Israeli blockade, which has badly affected people's daily life in Gaza.
"The lack of all materials, mainly construction materials and fuels, in addition to the lack of goods and high prices, I think thus will certainly affect the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip," Cardon said.
ALRAY contributed to this
Source: BS
14 apr 2014

Gaza premier Ismail Haneyya has expressed keenness on continuation of Egyptian patronage of the Palestinian reconciliation process. He appreciated the Egyptian role in this sphere during a telephone conversation with Egyptian intelligence officials on Monday, the Palestinian cabinet said in a statement.
It added that Haneyya briefed the intelligence officials on latest steps in the reconciliation process including a visit by a delegation sent by Mahmoud Abbas, PA chief, to Gaza next week.
Haneyya had earlier declared in a statement that progress would be achieved in the few coming days in the reconciliation process.
It added that Haneyya briefed the intelligence officials on latest steps in the reconciliation process including a visit by a delegation sent by Mahmoud Abbas, PA chief, to Gaza next week.
Haneyya had earlier declared in a statement that progress would be achieved in the few coming days in the reconciliation process.
11 apr 2014

The Egyptian army is planning to install an advanced system that will detect tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border over the coming days, Egyptian military sources revealed.
The system will include advanced cameras and motion capture sensors, al-Jazeera Net quoted the sources as saying.
Approximately 130 devices will be installed along 13 km long border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, according to the sources.
The new motion capture system is more advanced than the US system that was installed 8 years ago along Gaza's border where it failed to stop tunnel smuggling.
The system will include advanced cameras and motion capture sensors, al-Jazeera Net quoted the sources as saying.
Approximately 130 devices will be installed along 13 km long border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, according to the sources.
The new motion capture system is more advanced than the US system that was installed 8 years ago along Gaza's border where it failed to stop tunnel smuggling.
9 apr 2014

Palestinian government said the number of solidarity delegations to Gaza has decreased by 95% since July 2013. Media Office of the cabinet said in a report that 218 solidarity delegations visited the besieged Gaza Strip during last year, most of which during January.
The number of solidarity delegations peaked last January at 55 composed of 1281 members, followed by February with 42 delegations composed of 1219 members.
The delegations arrived in Gaza during the last four months were only four with 38 supporters.
Palestinians in Gaza have been under an extreme economic Israeli blockade since 2007, exacerbated Egypt destroying most of the border tunnels, which Gazans used to compensate for the Israeli closure, smuggling fuel and building materials in the first place.
A recent UN report said that an estimated 1.6 million people in the Gaza Strip suffer from food insecurity and they are in need for urgent food aids.
The outgoing head of the U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees urged Israel and Egypt on Tuesday to lift their border restrictions on the Gaza Strip, Reuters news agency reported.
The number of solidarity delegations peaked last January at 55 composed of 1281 members, followed by February with 42 delegations composed of 1219 members.
The delegations arrived in Gaza during the last four months were only four with 38 supporters.
Palestinians in Gaza have been under an extreme economic Israeli blockade since 2007, exacerbated Egypt destroying most of the border tunnels, which Gazans used to compensate for the Israeli closure, smuggling fuel and building materials in the first place.
A recent UN report said that an estimated 1.6 million people in the Gaza Strip suffer from food insecurity and they are in need for urgent food aids.
The outgoing head of the U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees urged Israel and Egypt on Tuesday to lift their border restrictions on the Gaza Strip, Reuters news agency reported.
8 apr 2014

An estimated 1.6 million people in the Gaza Strip suffer from food insecurity and they are in need for urgent food aids, according to the United Nation(UN). UN Humanitarian Coordinator James W Rawley said Monday during a press conference, “ the repercussions of the food insecurity in Gaza are very painful.” “The hard living conditions constitute a big challenge to our work here,” he added.
“The people in Gaza are facing big challenges and they need to live in peace and tranquility,” he said.
“The economic conditions in Gaza are deteriorating, therefore trade should be activated” Rawley pointed out, calling on the Egyptian authorities to find a commercial zone and allow the entry of goods and materials through Rafah border crossing.
He said the Israeli occupation’s closure of the crossings undermined the development processes in the strip, so he demanded Israel to allow the access of construction materials into Gaza for humanitarian projects.
Deputy Director of UNRWA operations in Gaza, Mr. Scott Anderson demonstrated the Gaza’s conditions saying the unemployment increased by 38%, about 800,000 Palestinian refugees are suffering food insecurity, and those who are in need of social safety and food aids have risen at an average of 44% to 57% over the last year.
Mr Andrson implied the deteriorated health condition in Gaza and the need to provide social safety and food security nets. He also pointed the spread of diseases due to targeting zoos and death of its animals.
He stressed the importance of supporting the unemployed people and the owners of the factories damaged due to the siege imposed by the Israeli occupation since 2007.
UNRWA exerts efforts to improve the economic situation in Gaza and support Gazans to live in dignity and peace, he said
He called on the international community to help alleviate the suffering of Palestinian people and support their steadfastness, stressing their right to have electricity, fresh water and desalination plants.
“The people in Gaza are facing big challenges and they need to live in peace and tranquility,” he said.
“The economic conditions in Gaza are deteriorating, therefore trade should be activated” Rawley pointed out, calling on the Egyptian authorities to find a commercial zone and allow the entry of goods and materials through Rafah border crossing.
He said the Israeli occupation’s closure of the crossings undermined the development processes in the strip, so he demanded Israel to allow the access of construction materials into Gaza for humanitarian projects.
Deputy Director of UNRWA operations in Gaza, Mr. Scott Anderson demonstrated the Gaza’s conditions saying the unemployment increased by 38%, about 800,000 Palestinian refugees are suffering food insecurity, and those who are in need of social safety and food aids have risen at an average of 44% to 57% over the last year.
Mr Andrson implied the deteriorated health condition in Gaza and the need to provide social safety and food security nets. He also pointed the spread of diseases due to targeting zoos and death of its animals.
He stressed the importance of supporting the unemployed people and the owners of the factories damaged due to the siege imposed by the Israeli occupation since 2007.
UNRWA exerts efforts to improve the economic situation in Gaza and support Gazans to live in dignity and peace, he said
He called on the international community to help alleviate the suffering of Palestinian people and support their steadfastness, stressing their right to have electricity, fresh water and desalination plants.
5 apr 2014

Egyptian army and police forces killed four members of "militant groups" and destroyed eight tunnels into the Gaza Strip in operations across the Sinai Peninsula on Saturday, security sources said.
Egyptian forces reportedly raided a number of areas where Wahhabi "insurgents" were based in al-Salam village, al-Kashef village, al-Muhajir neighborhood of El-Arish, Abu Tuweila and al-Joura neighborhoods of Sheikh Zuqeid, and Jouz abu Raed neighborhood in Rafah.
Eight tunnels leading into the Gaza Strip were also destroyed during the raids, security sources said. The tunnels were used to smuggle goods into the besieged Palestinian coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for nearly seven years.
The sources added that 36 members of armed groups were detained during the raids, including Tawfiq Abu Mlih, who they said is a leader in the Ansar Beit al-Maqdis organization that has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks targeting Egyptian security forces in recent months.
The sources said that security forces defused an explosive device and seized a number of weapons, cars, and motorcycles during the raids.
Egyptian armed forces launched large scale military action against militants in the Sinai Peninsula earlier in September, in what officials described as the largest mobilization of force in the area since the 1973 war with Israel.
The military action comes in the wake of rising instability and almost daily attacks in the region, following a July coup by the Egyptian military which unseated President Mohammad Morsi.
Since then, Muslim Brotherhood activists have held weekly demonstrations in protest against the coup, while the army has consolidated its grip on power and violently repressed protests against its rule, killing around 1,400 according to Amnesty International.
At the same time, Wahhabi militant groups have stepped up a violent campaign of attacks against the government, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula.
Egyptian forces reportedly raided a number of areas where Wahhabi "insurgents" were based in al-Salam village, al-Kashef village, al-Muhajir neighborhood of El-Arish, Abu Tuweila and al-Joura neighborhoods of Sheikh Zuqeid, and Jouz abu Raed neighborhood in Rafah.
Eight tunnels leading into the Gaza Strip were also destroyed during the raids, security sources said. The tunnels were used to smuggle goods into the besieged Palestinian coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade for nearly seven years.
The sources added that 36 members of armed groups were detained during the raids, including Tawfiq Abu Mlih, who they said is a leader in the Ansar Beit al-Maqdis organization that has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks targeting Egyptian security forces in recent months.
The sources said that security forces defused an explosive device and seized a number of weapons, cars, and motorcycles during the raids.
Egyptian armed forces launched large scale military action against militants in the Sinai Peninsula earlier in September, in what officials described as the largest mobilization of force in the area since the 1973 war with Israel.
The military action comes in the wake of rising instability and almost daily attacks in the region, following a July coup by the Egyptian military which unseated President Mohammad Morsi.
Since then, Muslim Brotherhood activists have held weekly demonstrations in protest against the coup, while the army has consolidated its grip on power and violently repressed protests against its rule, killing around 1,400 according to Amnesty International.
At the same time, Wahhabi militant groups have stepped up a violent campaign of attacks against the government, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula.
2 apr 2014

Interior ministry offices in Gaza received four thousand travel applications on Wednesday, a government official said. The registration for new departures through the Rafah crossing, the only connection with the outside world, has opened after a month of being closed due to the large number of applicants.
In a statement to ALRAY, Director of Crossings Administration in Gaza Maher Abu Sabha added that approximately 2,257 citizens were allowed into Egypt during the three-day opening this week.
He pointed out that the Egyptian authorities will open the crossing on Sunday and Monday to the fifth and sixth batch of pilgrims arriving from Mecca.
The Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah crossing on Saturday until Monday following over seven weeks of closure.
Gaza pilgrims do not need to apply for travel at the interior ministry offices throughout the Gaza Strip, as they travel in coordination with the government of Ramallah.
Since the ouster of Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated elected president of Egypt, the Egyptian authorities have been closing the Rafah crossing constantly, only allowing for two or three days on a biweekly basis.
Two children have died as a result of the Rafah border closure since July 2013, the lasest of whom was three-year-old Ahmad Abu Nahl, who passed on Thursday, March 13.
In a statement to ALRAY, Director of Crossings Administration in Gaza Maher Abu Sabha added that approximately 2,257 citizens were allowed into Egypt during the three-day opening this week.
He pointed out that the Egyptian authorities will open the crossing on Sunday and Monday to the fifth and sixth batch of pilgrims arriving from Mecca.
The Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah crossing on Saturday until Monday following over seven weeks of closure.
Gaza pilgrims do not need to apply for travel at the interior ministry offices throughout the Gaza Strip, as they travel in coordination with the government of Ramallah.
Since the ouster of Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated elected president of Egypt, the Egyptian authorities have been closing the Rafah crossing constantly, only allowing for two or three days on a biweekly basis.
Two children have died as a result of the Rafah border closure since July 2013, the lasest of whom was three-year-old Ahmad Abu Nahl, who passed on Thursday, March 13.

spokesperson of Gaza's Ministry of Interior, Iyad al-Bezm
Ministry of interior in Gaza confirmed that borders between the Gaza Strip and Egypt are quite stable and strictly controlled by the Palestinian National Security Force. Ministry’s spokesperson Iyad al-Bezm said that the news, published by the Kuwaiti newspaper ALRai, is a pure lie and fabrication made by intelligence devices as an incitement attempt against the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian resistance.
The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai reported recently that the Egyptian security arrested three Palestinians claimed they planned to assassinate former Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Bezm said that the border tunnels between Gaza and Egypt are totally disabled after being destroyed by the Egyptian security forces.
He assured that no Palestinian can across the borders as they are under full control of Palestinian National Security Force deployed on both sides of the border.
Ministry of interior in Gaza confirmed that borders between the Gaza Strip and Egypt are quite stable and strictly controlled by the Palestinian National Security Force. Ministry’s spokesperson Iyad al-Bezm said that the news, published by the Kuwaiti newspaper ALRai, is a pure lie and fabrication made by intelligence devices as an incitement attempt against the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian resistance.
The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai reported recently that the Egyptian security arrested three Palestinians claimed they planned to assassinate former Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Bezm said that the border tunnels between Gaza and Egypt are totally disabled after being destroyed by the Egyptian security forces.
He assured that no Palestinian can across the borders as they are under full control of Palestinian National Security Force deployed on both sides of the border.
1 apr 2014
|
Ministry of Information urged the Egyptian authorities to improve the travel conditions at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing for the Palestinian leavers. Spokeswoman for the ministry Isra al-Modallal said during a check-on tour of the Rafah border that the Palestinian travelers have been still reeling from the closure of the crossing.
The crossing was opened three days this week after seven weeks of closure. She added that the Palestinian government in Gaza is working hard to end this crisis, adding that the Palestinian crossing has a capacity to allow a good number of departures daily but the Egyptian side makes it difficult. |
She called on the Egyptian leadership not to put the life of thousands of Gaza students and patients at the stake of political issues they are not part of.
Since the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, 2013, Egypt has been constantly closing the Rafah crossing, opening it only two or three days at spaced intervals to humanitarian cases.
Since the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, 2013, Egypt has been constantly closing the Rafah crossing, opening it only two or three days at spaced intervals to humanitarian cases.
30 mar 2014

Egyptian authorities on Sunday denied entry to a Malaysian delegation seeking to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, Gaza government officials said.
Palestinian officials said eight solidarity activists from Malaysia attempted to cross through to Gaza four times, and that on the fourth time they were deported.
The officials denounced the Egyptian actions, saying the Malaysian delegation was set to provide Gaza residents with humanitarian aid through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Gaza City.
Egypt opened the Rafah crossing to special cases for a three-day period starting Saturday.
The crossing is the principal connection between Gaza's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since Israel's imposition of an economic blockade in 2007.
There have been frequent closures of the Rafah terminal in recent months due to political unrest in Egypt and violence in the Sinai Peninsula, placing an added burden on Gaza Strip residents.
After the July ouster of 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.
Palestinian officials said eight solidarity activists from Malaysia attempted to cross through to Gaza four times, and that on the fourth time they were deported.
The officials denounced the Egyptian actions, saying the Malaysian delegation was set to provide Gaza residents with humanitarian aid through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Gaza City.
Egypt opened the Rafah crossing to special cases for a three-day period starting Saturday.
The crossing is the principal connection between Gaza's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since Israel's imposition of an economic blockade in 2007.
There have been frequent closures of the Rafah terminal in recent months due to political unrest in Egypt and violence in the Sinai Peninsula, placing an added burden on Gaza Strip residents.
After the July ouster of 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.
29 mar 2014

The United Nations on Friday asked each of Egypt and Israel to ease their siege on the Gaza Strip. The London-based Arabic newspaper ‘A-Hayat’ quoted Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, as saying in a press conference that the UN has not stopped urging Egypt and Israel to end restrictions on Gaza crossings.
UNRWA commissioner-general Filippo Grandi had earlier called for lifting the “oppressive” siege on Gaza.
He said that both Egypt and Israel bear the responsibility for the blockade on Gaza Strip, adding that civilians should be spared consequences of conflicts.
UNRWA commissioner-general Filippo Grandi had earlier called for lifting the “oppressive” siege on Gaza.
He said that both Egypt and Israel bear the responsibility for the blockade on Gaza Strip, adding that civilians should be spared consequences of conflicts.
28 mar 2014

An Al-Qaeda-inspired group based in the Egyptian Sinai threatened Thursday to attack contractors and workers involved in the construction of a security wall at a town in the restive peninsula.
The Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Partisans of Jerusalem) group has claimed most of the deadliest attacks in Egypt since the military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July, saying they were in revenge for a crackdown on his supporters that left hundreds dead.
In a statement published on militant forums, the group accused authorities of building a wall around the town of el-Arish, in north Sinai, to "isolate it from other villages and towns of the province", threatening to carry out attacks against those involved in the project.
"We warn contractors, investors, owners of companies, workers, those who are supervising the construction of this wall, owners of trucks transporting building materials: we won't neglect targeting you and we will spare no effort ... to prevent you," the group said.
Security officials denied the construction of a barrier around el-Arish, but said authorities started weeks ago to build a wall south of the town to secure the airport and nearby agricultural fields used by militants as hideouts.
The army has poured troops into the mountainous and underdeveloped Sinai peninsula, which borders the Gaza Strip and Israel, to combat the growing militancy.
Most of the attacks have been carried out in the northern Sinai and have targeted soldiers and policemen, but militants have lately expanded their reach to the Nile Delta.
In recent months, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis has claimed responsibility for a car bombing at a police headquarters in Cairo, the shooting down of a military helicopter and the suicide bombing of a tourist bus in the Sinai.
More than 1,400 people have been killed in the security forces' crackdown on Morsi's supporters, according to Amnesty International. Thousands have been jailed.
The Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Partisans of Jerusalem) group has claimed most of the deadliest attacks in Egypt since the military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July, saying they were in revenge for a crackdown on his supporters that left hundreds dead.
In a statement published on militant forums, the group accused authorities of building a wall around the town of el-Arish, in north Sinai, to "isolate it from other villages and towns of the province", threatening to carry out attacks against those involved in the project.
"We warn contractors, investors, owners of companies, workers, those who are supervising the construction of this wall, owners of trucks transporting building materials: we won't neglect targeting you and we will spare no effort ... to prevent you," the group said.
Security officials denied the construction of a barrier around el-Arish, but said authorities started weeks ago to build a wall south of the town to secure the airport and nearby agricultural fields used by militants as hideouts.
The army has poured troops into the mountainous and underdeveloped Sinai peninsula, which borders the Gaza Strip and Israel, to combat the growing militancy.
Most of the attacks have been carried out in the northern Sinai and have targeted soldiers and policemen, but militants have lately expanded their reach to the Nile Delta.
In recent months, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis has claimed responsibility for a car bombing at a police headquarters in Cairo, the shooting down of a military helicopter and the suicide bombing of a tourist bus in the Sinai.
More than 1,400 people have been killed in the security forces' crackdown on Morsi's supporters, according to Amnesty International. Thousands have been jailed.