24 mar 2016
Alexandria Court for Urgent Matters in Egypt adjourned the session to rule on the lawsuit demanding to label Hamas Movement as a terrorist group to April 27.
Tareq Mahmoud, an Egyptian lawyer, filed the suit in the wake of the Egyptian Ministry of Interior’s accusations against Hamas of involvement in the assassination of the Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat.
The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters ruled in January, 2015 that the lawsuit was not of its specialization. Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, responded then to the ruling by saying that the Movement is perceiving the ruling positively, and stressed that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of any of the Arab countries.
Tareq Mahmoud, an Egyptian lawyer, filed the suit in the wake of the Egyptian Ministry of Interior’s accusations against Hamas of involvement in the assassination of the Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat.
The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters ruled in January, 2015 that the lawsuit was not of its specialization. Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, responded then to the ruling by saying that the Movement is perceiving the ruling positively, and stressed that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of any of the Arab countries.
14 mar 2016
Abd al-Salah al-Butnaji 36
A Hamas field commander died on Monday, in a tunnel accident which occurred in the Gaza Strip, the party stated.
The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, said that Abd al-Salah al-Butnaji died while he was working in a tunnel in Gaza.
Al-Butnaji, 36, was from the al-Shujayya neighborhood of Gaza City, the statement added, according to Ma'an.
The al-Qassam Brigades did not give further details on the circumstances behind his death.
On Saturday, the Gaza Strip’s civil defense found the bodies of two Palestinian workers in a tunnel which had been flooded by Egypt, three days earlier.
Palestinians in Gaza have relied on underground smuggling tunnels across the Egyptian border since 2007 when Israel imposed a military blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control there.
The tunnels have since provided a vital lifeline for the besieged territory's more than 1.8 million residents.
However, Egypt has destroyed and flooded hundreds of the tunnels as part of an ongoing security campaign in the northern Sinai Peninsula against anti-regime militants launching attacks on Egyptian police and military personnel.
Egypt accuses Hamas of supporting the insurgents, allegations Hamas strongly denies. The UN reported in February that only a few tunnels remained partially operational between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
A Hamas field commander died on Monday, in a tunnel accident which occurred in the Gaza Strip, the party stated.
The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, said that Abd al-Salah al-Butnaji died while he was working in a tunnel in Gaza.
Al-Butnaji, 36, was from the al-Shujayya neighborhood of Gaza City, the statement added, according to Ma'an.
The al-Qassam Brigades did not give further details on the circumstances behind his death.
On Saturday, the Gaza Strip’s civil defense found the bodies of two Palestinian workers in a tunnel which had been flooded by Egypt, three days earlier.
Palestinians in Gaza have relied on underground smuggling tunnels across the Egyptian border since 2007 when Israel imposed a military blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control there.
The tunnels have since provided a vital lifeline for the besieged territory's more than 1.8 million residents.
However, Egypt has destroyed and flooded hundreds of the tunnels as part of an ongoing security campaign in the northern Sinai Peninsula against anti-regime militants launching attacks on Egyptian police and military personnel.
Egypt accuses Hamas of supporting the insurgents, allegations Hamas strongly denies. The UN reported in February that only a few tunnels remained partially operational between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
13 mar 2016
Fadi Taiseer Abu Dan (picture)
Mohammad Khader Abbas
The Gaza Strip’s civil defense found the bodies of two Palestinians workers in a flooded tunnel late on Saturday, days after Egyptian authorities pumped seawater into the structure.
Medical sources said that the civil defense found the bodies of Fadi Abu Dan, from Khan Yunis, and Muhammad Abbas, from Rafah, adding that both were in their twenties.
Seven Palestinians were rescued on Thursday during a search operation in the Gazan city of Rafah after Egyptian authorities flooded the tunnel while workers were present.
Palestinians in Gaza have relied on underground smuggling tunnels across the Egyptian border since 2007, when Israel imposed a military blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control there.
The tunnels have since provided a vital lifeline for the besieged territory's more than 1.8 million residents.
However, Egypt has destroyed and flooded hundreds of the tunnels as part of an ongoing security campaign in the northern Sinai Peninsula against anti-regime militants launching attacks on Egyptian police and military personnel.
Egypt accuses Hamas of supporting the insurgents, allegations Hamas strongly denies.
Israel's Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz told Israeli media early last month that a number of tunnels had been flooded at Israel's request, adding that relations between Egypt and Israel were "better than ever."
Human Rights Watch last year slammed Egypt's military for its campaign against the tunnels, during which the group said some 3,200 families had been evicted from their homes near the border and hundreds of acres of farmland destroyed.
The group said Egypt had failed to provide adequate proof that insurgents were receiving support from Gaza.
The UN reported in February that only a few tunnels remained partially operational between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
Mohammad Khader Abbas
The Gaza Strip’s civil defense found the bodies of two Palestinians workers in a flooded tunnel late on Saturday, days after Egyptian authorities pumped seawater into the structure.
Medical sources said that the civil defense found the bodies of Fadi Abu Dan, from Khan Yunis, and Muhammad Abbas, from Rafah, adding that both were in their twenties.
Seven Palestinians were rescued on Thursday during a search operation in the Gazan city of Rafah after Egyptian authorities flooded the tunnel while workers were present.
Palestinians in Gaza have relied on underground smuggling tunnels across the Egyptian border since 2007, when Israel imposed a military blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control there.
The tunnels have since provided a vital lifeline for the besieged territory's more than 1.8 million residents.
However, Egypt has destroyed and flooded hundreds of the tunnels as part of an ongoing security campaign in the northern Sinai Peninsula against anti-regime militants launching attacks on Egyptian police and military personnel.
Egypt accuses Hamas of supporting the insurgents, allegations Hamas strongly denies.
Israel's Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz told Israeli media early last month that a number of tunnels had been flooded at Israel's request, adding that relations between Egypt and Israel were "better than ever."
Human Rights Watch last year slammed Egypt's military for its campaign against the tunnels, during which the group said some 3,200 families had been evicted from their homes near the border and hundreds of acres of farmland destroyed.
The group said Egypt had failed to provide adequate proof that insurgents were receiving support from Gaza.
The UN reported in February that only a few tunnels remained partially operational between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
10 mar 2016
Seven Palestinians were rescued during a search operation in the Gaza Strip’s Rafah city on Thursday after Egyptian authorities allegedly flooded a tunnel where workers were present, Palestinian security sources said.
While seven workers were rescued, Gazan authorities are still looking for one more worker thought to be stuck inside the tunnel.
Palestinian security sources said the tunnel was flooded when Egyptian authorities pumped seawater into the structure.
Last month, Egyptian authorities destroyed another tunnel on the border of the Gaza Strip, with no injuries reported.
Palestinians in Gaza have relied on underground smuggling tunnels across the Egyptian border since 2007 when Israel imposed a military blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control there.
The tunnels have since provided a vital lifeline for the besieged territory's more than 1.8 million residents.
However, Egypt has destroyed and flooded hundreds of the tunnels as part of an ongoing security campaign in the northern Sinai Peninsula against anti-regime militants launching attacks on Egyptian police and military personnel.
Egypt accuses Hamas of supporting the insurgents, allegations Hamas strongly denies.
Israel's Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz told Israeli media early last month that a number of tunnels had been flooded at Israel's request, adding that relations between Egypt and Israel were "better than ever."
Human Rights Watch last year slammed Egypt's military for its campaign against the tunnels, during which the group said some 3,200 families had been evicted from their homes near the border and hundreds of acres of farmland destroyed.
The group said Egypt had failed to provide adequate proof that insurgents were receiving support from Gaza.
The UN reported in February that only a few tunnels remained partially operational between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
While seven workers were rescued, Gazan authorities are still looking for one more worker thought to be stuck inside the tunnel.
Palestinian security sources said the tunnel was flooded when Egyptian authorities pumped seawater into the structure.
Last month, Egyptian authorities destroyed another tunnel on the border of the Gaza Strip, with no injuries reported.
Palestinians in Gaza have relied on underground smuggling tunnels across the Egyptian border since 2007 when Israel imposed a military blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control there.
The tunnels have since provided a vital lifeline for the besieged territory's more than 1.8 million residents.
However, Egypt has destroyed and flooded hundreds of the tunnels as part of an ongoing security campaign in the northern Sinai Peninsula against anti-regime militants launching attacks on Egyptian police and military personnel.
Egypt accuses Hamas of supporting the insurgents, allegations Hamas strongly denies.
Israel's Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz told Israeli media early last month that a number of tunnels had been flooded at Israel's request, adding that relations between Egypt and Israel were "better than ever."
Human Rights Watch last year slammed Egypt's military for its campaign against the tunnels, during which the group said some 3,200 families had been evicted from their homes near the border and hundreds of acres of farmland destroyed.
The group said Egypt had failed to provide adequate proof that insurgents were receiving support from Gaza.
The UN reported in February that only a few tunnels remained partially operational between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
7 mar 2016
Hamas Movement said that the Egyptian interior minister’s new accusations came as part of the smear campaign against the group. Accusing Hamas of involvement in the killing of Egypt's public prosecutor came after similar past accusations proved false, leader in the Movement Salah Bardawil said in a press conference held Monday evening in Gaza City.
On July 1, 2015 the Egyptian Interior Ministry held a press conference declaring the killing of 13 persons allegedly linked to Muslim Brotherhood for being involved in the public prosecutor’s killing, Bardawil pointed out.
“However, the Egyptian Ministry later declared on September 1, 2015 the killing of an Egyptian security official for being involved in the same crime.”
“On February 3, 2016 the Egyptian Interior Ministry declared the execution of the public prosecutor’s killers. The ministry, itself, declared on March 6, 2016 the arrest of four students for involvement in the crimes.”
Bardawil renewed his Movement’s keenness not to intervene in any Arab country’s interior affairs. "It has never been a characteristic of us to interfere in Egyptian security affairs," he stressed.
"Our battle is only against the Israeli occupation to our land and holy sites," Bardawil continued. "The suspects have never entered Gaza and have no relations with Hamas," he said before asking the Egyptian government to review the "false allegations" in order to avoid straining relations with Palestine.
The Egyptian interior minister Majdi Abdul-Ghaffar claimed on Sunday that Hamas had provided training and support for members of the group who detonated an explosive device at the motorcade of prosecutor Barakat and killed him in June last year.
On July 1, 2015 the Egyptian Interior Ministry held a press conference declaring the killing of 13 persons allegedly linked to Muslim Brotherhood for being involved in the public prosecutor’s killing, Bardawil pointed out.
“However, the Egyptian Ministry later declared on September 1, 2015 the killing of an Egyptian security official for being involved in the same crime.”
“On February 3, 2016 the Egyptian Interior Ministry declared the execution of the public prosecutor’s killers. The ministry, itself, declared on March 6, 2016 the arrest of four students for involvement in the crimes.”
Bardawil renewed his Movement’s keenness not to intervene in any Arab country’s interior affairs. "It has never been a characteristic of us to interfere in Egyptian security affairs," he stressed.
"Our battle is only against the Israeli occupation to our land and holy sites," Bardawil continued. "The suspects have never entered Gaza and have no relations with Hamas," he said before asking the Egyptian government to review the "false allegations" in order to avoid straining relations with Palestine.
The Egyptian interior minister Majdi Abdul-Ghaffar claimed on Sunday that Hamas had provided training and support for members of the group who detonated an explosive device at the motorcade of prosecutor Barakat and killed him in June last year.
Political bureau member of Hamas, Khalil al-Hayya, slammed on Sunday evening the Egyptian interior minister for accusing Hamas of involvement in the killing of Egypt's public prosecutor, Hisham Barakat.
Al-Hayya said during a rally in Khan Younis that Hamas’s only enemy is the Israeli occupation, expressing the group’s firm condemnation of Egyptian claims that Hamas had been involved in the assassination of Barakat.
Egyptian Interior Minister Magdy Abdul Ghaffar told reporters that the plot was carried out in close coordination with Hamas. “Egypt’s accusations are counterfeit,” said al-Hayya.
“We’ve always opted for a policy of non-interference as regards Egypt’s internal affairs.” The official further slammed Fatah officials, including Jihad al-Harazeen, for inciting Egyptian authorities to punish Hamas.
Al-Hayya said during a rally in Khan Younis that Hamas’s only enemy is the Israeli occupation, expressing the group’s firm condemnation of Egyptian claims that Hamas had been involved in the assassination of Barakat.
Egyptian Interior Minister Magdy Abdul Ghaffar told reporters that the plot was carried out in close coordination with Hamas. “Egypt’s accusations are counterfeit,” said al-Hayya.
“We’ve always opted for a policy of non-interference as regards Egypt’s internal affairs.” The official further slammed Fatah officials, including Jihad al-Harazeen, for inciting Egyptian authorities to punish Hamas.
Senior Hamas official Mushir al-Masri has condemned the Egyptian claims about his Movement's involvement in the assassination of prosecutor general Hisham Barakat as "false and part of a broken record."
Masri made his remarks during a political meeting held in Gaza on Sunday evening to discuss the important developments in the Palestinian arena.
The Hamas official denied his Movement's involvement in any events happening in Egypt, adding that such accusations go against the efforts being made recently to repair the relations between Cairo and Hamas.
He also denounced the Fatah Movement for persisting in taking anti-national positions against their own people and "fishing in troubled water."
Egyptian interior minister Majdi Abdul-Ghaffar claimed on Sunday that Hamas had provided training and support for members of the group who detonated an explosive device at the motorcade of prosecutor Barakat and killed him in June last year.
Masri made his remarks during a political meeting held in Gaza on Sunday evening to discuss the important developments in the Palestinian arena.
The Hamas official denied his Movement's involvement in any events happening in Egypt, adding that such accusations go against the efforts being made recently to repair the relations between Cairo and Hamas.
He also denounced the Fatah Movement for persisting in taking anti-national positions against their own people and "fishing in troubled water."
Egyptian interior minister Majdi Abdul-Ghaffar claimed on Sunday that Hamas had provided training and support for members of the group who detonated an explosive device at the motorcade of prosecutor Barakat and killed him in June last year.
6 mar 2016
Two Egyptian army officers and an ambulance driver were killed on Sunday in the city of Sheikh Zuweid in the northern Sinai Peninsula.
An Egyptian security source told Ma’an that a roadside bomb hit an infantry unit of the Egyptian army in al-Shadayid neighborhood of Sheikh Zuweid, killing two officers.
An ambulance rushing to the area also came under fire. The ambulance driver was injured and later died of his wounds.
Egyptian military and police forces have been the target of ongoing attacks since the military took power from democratically-elected Muhammad Morsi in 2013.
A militant group responsible for a majority of attacks on military personnel, Beit Ansar al-Maqdis, aligned with the Islamic State group in November 2014, changing its name to Sinai Province.
An Egyptian security source told Ma’an that a roadside bomb hit an infantry unit of the Egyptian army in al-Shadayid neighborhood of Sheikh Zuweid, killing two officers.
An ambulance rushing to the area also came under fire. The ambulance driver was injured and later died of his wounds.
Egyptian military and police forces have been the target of ongoing attacks since the military took power from democratically-elected Muhammad Morsi in 2013.
A militant group responsible for a majority of attacks on military personnel, Beit Ansar al-Maqdis, aligned with the Islamic State group in November 2014, changing its name to Sinai Province.
1 mar 2016
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday met with Egypt’s ambassador to Israel Hazem Khayrat in Occupied Jerusalem.
Netanyahu’s office said, in a brief statement issued by radio Israel, that Netanyahu and Khayrat held talks on Israeli-Egyptian relations, regional issues, and the peace process with Palestinians in addition to other issues.
Last Thursday, the Israeli president Reuven Rivlin officially accepted the letter of credence of Egypt’s ambassador. For three years, there have been no ambassador of Egypt to Israel as Egypt’s ousted president Mohammad Mursi had recalled him.
Netanyahu’s office said, in a brief statement issued by radio Israel, that Netanyahu and Khayrat held talks on Israeli-Egyptian relations, regional issues, and the peace process with Palestinians in addition to other issues.
Last Thursday, the Israeli president Reuven Rivlin officially accepted the letter of credence of Egypt’s ambassador. For three years, there have been no ambassador of Egypt to Israel as Egypt’s ousted president Mohammad Mursi had recalled him.
Member of Hamas's political bureau Mousa Abu Marzouk has said that protecting the Egyptian and Arab national security is an unwavering policy of his Movement.
In recent Facebook remarks, Abu Marzouk stated that Palestine is negatively affected by the absence of security in the Arab world.
He underlined that Hamas has always been keen on resisting the occupation inside Palestine and not going beyond this policy.
"Hamas does not allow anything harmful to Egypt and its stability to come from its side, especially in the Sinai," the Hamas official emphasized, affirming that the Palestinians in Gaza are the people most affected by any security problems in the Sinai.
In recent Facebook remarks, Abu Marzouk stated that Palestine is negatively affected by the absence of security in the Arab world.
He underlined that Hamas has always been keen on resisting the occupation inside Palestine and not going beyond this policy.
"Hamas does not allow anything harmful to Egypt and its stability to come from its side, especially in the Sinai," the Hamas official emphasized, affirming that the Palestinians in Gaza are the people most affected by any security problems in the Sinai.
28 feb 2016
Families of the four Gazans abducted by so far unknown Egyptian masked men gathered one million signatures demanding the release of their sons who have been kidnapped for six months.
The campaign was launched by the popular committee in solidarity with the kidnapped four on Saturday. Participants sat-in before the Egyptian embassy in Gaza during the launch of the signing process.
Head of the committee, Mohammad Sultan, said that the four abducted young men were traveling for study and treatment legally via Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
He slammed the Palestinian and Egyptian authorities as well as international and humanitarian institutions for doing nothing in order to know about their fates or to work on their release. The four abducted youths are Abdudayem Abu Lebdeh, Yasser Zanoun, Abdullah Abu al-Jubain, and Hussein al-Zebdeh.
They were kidnapped on August, 18, 2015 few meters after exiting the Egyptian gate of the crossing. Until this moment, no news have been released on their fate or whereabouts.
The campaign was launched by the popular committee in solidarity with the kidnapped four on Saturday. Participants sat-in before the Egyptian embassy in Gaza during the launch of the signing process.
Head of the committee, Mohammad Sultan, said that the four abducted young men were traveling for study and treatment legally via Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
He slammed the Palestinian and Egyptian authorities as well as international and humanitarian institutions for doing nothing in order to know about their fates or to work on their release. The four abducted youths are Abdudayem Abu Lebdeh, Yasser Zanoun, Abdullah Abu al-Jubain, and Hussein al-Zebdeh.
They were kidnapped on August, 18, 2015 few meters after exiting the Egyptian gate of the crossing. Until this moment, no news have been released on their fate or whereabouts.
Osama Hamdan, Hamas’s international relations official, disclosed that contacts were being conducted with Egypt in order to improve mutual relations.
Hamdan said, in a press statement, “there is a significant improvement in relations with Egypt and we hope to develop relations to the best and on the right track that serves the Palestinian Question”.
“The development of relations with Egypt will positively affect the humanitarian condition in Gaza Strip”, Hamdan pointed out.
Egypt is the only guardian of the Palestinian reconciliation file and hosted many of Hamas-Fatah talks.
Hamdan said, in a press statement, “there is a significant improvement in relations with Egypt and we hope to develop relations to the best and on the right track that serves the Palestinian Question”.
“The development of relations with Egypt will positively affect the humanitarian condition in Gaza Strip”, Hamdan pointed out.
Egypt is the only guardian of the Palestinian reconciliation file and hosted many of Hamas-Fatah talks.
27 feb 2016
Two Egyptian soldiers were killed and two others were injured on Saturday when an explosive device went off in the Egyptian city of Rafah next to the border with the Gaza Strip.
Egyptian security sources said that an explosive device went off as several soldiers were searching an area in the village of al-Masura in southern Rafah.
The two wounded were critically injured by shrapnel, and were taken to the el-Arish military hospital.
Egyptian military and police forces have been the target of ongoing attacks since the military took power from democratically-elected Muhammad Morsi in 2013.
A militant group responsible for a majority of attacks on military personnel, Beit Ansar al-Maqdis, aligned with the Islamic State group in November 2014, changing its name to Sinai Province.
Egyptian security sources said that an explosive device went off as several soldiers were searching an area in the village of al-Masura in southern Rafah.
The two wounded were critically injured by shrapnel, and were taken to the el-Arish military hospital.
Egyptian military and police forces have been the target of ongoing attacks since the military took power from democratically-elected Muhammad Morsi in 2013.
A militant group responsible for a majority of attacks on military personnel, Beit Ansar al-Maqdis, aligned with the Islamic State group in November 2014, changing its name to Sinai Province.
18 feb 2016
The families of the four abducted Palestinians at noon Wednesday handed a letter to the United Nations envoy for peace process Nicolay Mladenov.
Abdul Dayem Abu Lebdeh, uncle of one of the kidnapped and the spokesman of the families of the abductees, addressed, in a sit-in, Mladenov saying, “We hope the United Nations will work on finding our abducted sons who have been kidnapped for six months while travelling via Rafah border crossing”.
Abdul Dayem Abu Lebdeh, uncle of one of the kidnapped and the spokesman of the families of the abductees, addressed, in a sit-in, Mladenov saying, “We hope the United Nations will work on finding our abducted sons who have been kidnapped for six months while travelling via Rafah border crossing”.
Abu Lebdeh said, in an exclusive statement to the PIC, that the families of the kidnapped four had already addressed international and human rights institutions including the UN about their sons, but they did not receive any response.
Anonymous people abducted the four Gazan youths: Abdul Dayem Abu Lebdeh, Hussein al-Zebdeh, Abdullah Abu Al-Jabeen, and Yaser Zannoun.
They were travelling for medical treatment and study abroad via Rafah border crossing with Egypt. No details on their fate or about who kidnapped them have been revealed yet.
Anonymous people abducted the four Gazan youths: Abdul Dayem Abu Lebdeh, Hussein al-Zebdeh, Abdullah Abu Al-Jabeen, and Yaser Zannoun.
They were travelling for medical treatment and study abroad via Rafah border crossing with Egypt. No details on their fate or about who kidnapped them have been revealed yet.
15 feb 2016
Haj and Umrah companies in the southern provinces of the Gaza Strip appealed for the revival of the season of Umrah which is about to collapse because of the continuous closure of Rafah border crossing.
In a press conference on Sunday, the firms directed their appeal to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas along with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz. Awad Abu Mathkour, head of the Haj and Umrah company society, said “all of the contracts required with Saudi Arabia to manage Umrah journeys have been prepared and we are waiting for the Rafah crossing to be opened so that the journeys can be launched to Saudi Arabia”.
He pointed out that 79 Palestinian Haj and Umrah companies are threatened with closure due to the paralysis of Umrah season. 12,000 names have been registered so far at those companies for Umrah, he pointed out. Awad said the time needed to rescue the season is a period of three months after two months have passed in vein.
The Egyptian authorities continue the closure of Rafah border crossing with Gaza before Palestinian travelers and have been preventing the Umrah journeys for two and a half months. The Rafah crossing was exceptionally opened on Saturday and Sunday.
In a press conference on Sunday, the firms directed their appeal to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas along with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz. Awad Abu Mathkour, head of the Haj and Umrah company society, said “all of the contracts required with Saudi Arabia to manage Umrah journeys have been prepared and we are waiting for the Rafah crossing to be opened so that the journeys can be launched to Saudi Arabia”.
He pointed out that 79 Palestinian Haj and Umrah companies are threatened with closure due to the paralysis of Umrah season. 12,000 names have been registered so far at those companies for Umrah, he pointed out. Awad said the time needed to rescue the season is a period of three months after two months have passed in vein.
The Egyptian authorities continue the closure of Rafah border crossing with Gaza before Palestinian travelers and have been preventing the Umrah journeys for two and a half months. The Rafah crossing was exceptionally opened on Saturday and Sunday.
Mousa Abu Marzouk, member of Hamas political bureau, said “Israel is the only party that benefits from sabotaging the security of Sinai and imposing siege on Gaza”.
Talking to Quds Press, Abu Marzouk called on the Egyptians as well as the Palestinians not to give the Israelis a chance for that. “Gaza Strip is suffering from the closure of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in light of the absence of security in Sinai”, he elaborated.
He pointed out that the areas of Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid, Arish and Bir al-Abed attract residents, but the lack of security prevented citizens from inhabiting them.
Talking to Quds Press, Abu Marzouk called on the Egyptians as well as the Palestinians not to give the Israelis a chance for that. “Gaza Strip is suffering from the closure of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in light of the absence of security in Sinai”, he elaborated.
He pointed out that the areas of Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid, Arish and Bir al-Abed attract residents, but the lack of security prevented citizens from inhabiting them.