Egypt will keep Gaza border open indefinitely
Source: Agencies |
June 8, 2010, Tuesday
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AN Egyptian security official declared the blockade of Gaza a failure yesterday and said his country will keep its border with the Palestinian territory open indefinitely.
Keeping that crossing point open long term would ease the blockade imposed by Israel three years ago to isolate and punish Gaza's Hamas rulers. It also restores a link to the outside world for some of Gaza's 1.5 million Palestinians.
Egypt opened its border with Gaza soon after Israel's deadly raid on an international flotilla of activists trying to break the blockade a week ago. Israeli officials declined to comment yesterday on Egypt's steps.
In another escalation of the tension off Gaza's shores, Israeli naval forces shot and killed four men wearing wet suits off the coast yesterday. The militant group Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades said they were members of its marine unit training for a mission.
United States Vice President Joe Biden said yesterday after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh that the US is closely consulting with Egypt and other allies to find new ways to "address the humanitarian, economic, security, and political aspects of the situation in Gaza."
Egypt and Israel have maintained the blockade since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, with Israel describing it as an essential measure to stop weapons from reaching Hamas militants, who have hit southern Israel with rockets and in past years killed hundreds in suicide bombings.
But the Egyptian security official said the closure has failed to achieve its goals, including the release of an Israeli soldier held by Hamas since 2006. Israeli airstrikes and Egyptian security efforts have also yet to choke off a bustling smuggling trade that uses hundreds of tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border, though the official said Egypt is determined to shut them down.
The crossing point at the border town of Rafah is still subject to restrictions, with Egypt letting in some humanitarian aid and allowing Palestinians into Egypt on a case-by-case basis for medical treatment, for example.
Egypt will not allow in large cargo shipments or construction material because the terminal is designed primarily as a crossing for travelers, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
For its part, Israel allows through only basic humanitarian goods, blocking crucial items like cement needed to rebuild war damage because it argues the material could be used by Hamas. The closure has crushed Gaza's already fragile economy.
The Egyptian official said Israel must work out a new policy to end the suffering of the Palestinians while keeping pressure on Hamas.
Egypt, which fears having an Islamist-controlled territory at its border, has been harshly criticized in the Muslim world for having helped maintain the blockade.
The security official called it a "continuously embarrassing situation" for Egypt and blamed Israel for thinking the closure could pressure Hamas to release the captured soldier, Gilad Schalit.
"Israel still insists that the blockade is a pressure tool, it can release Schalit and force Hamas to stop resistance," the official said.
"On the contrary, it becomes more extremist."
Keeping that crossing point open long term would ease the blockade imposed by Israel three years ago to isolate and punish Gaza's Hamas rulers. It also restores a link to the outside world for some of Gaza's 1.5 million Palestinians.
Egypt opened its border with Gaza soon after Israel's deadly raid on an international flotilla of activists trying to break the blockade a week ago. Israeli officials declined to comment yesterday on Egypt's steps.
In another escalation of the tension off Gaza's shores, Israeli naval forces shot and killed four men wearing wet suits off the coast yesterday. The militant group Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades said they were members of its marine unit training for a mission.
United States Vice President Joe Biden said yesterday after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh that the US is closely consulting with Egypt and other allies to find new ways to "address the humanitarian, economic, security, and political aspects of the situation in Gaza."
Egypt and Israel have maintained the blockade since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, with Israel describing it as an essential measure to stop weapons from reaching Hamas militants, who have hit southern Israel with rockets and in past years killed hundreds in suicide bombings.
But the Egyptian security official said the closure has failed to achieve its goals, including the release of an Israeli soldier held by Hamas since 2006. Israeli airstrikes and Egyptian security efforts have also yet to choke off a bustling smuggling trade that uses hundreds of tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border, though the official said Egypt is determined to shut them down.
The crossing point at the border town of Rafah is still subject to restrictions, with Egypt letting in some humanitarian aid and allowing Palestinians into Egypt on a case-by-case basis for medical treatment, for example.
Egypt will not allow in large cargo shipments or construction material because the terminal is designed primarily as a crossing for travelers, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
For its part, Israel allows through only basic humanitarian goods, blocking crucial items like cement needed to rebuild war damage because it argues the material could be used by Hamas. The closure has crushed Gaza's already fragile economy.
The Egyptian official said Israel must work out a new policy to end the suffering of the Palestinians while keeping pressure on Hamas.
Egypt, which fears having an Islamist-controlled territory at its border, has been harshly criticized in the Muslim world for having helped maintain the blockade.
The security official called it a "continuously embarrassing situation" for Egypt and blamed Israel for thinking the closure could pressure Hamas to release the captured soldier, Gilad Schalit.
"Israel still insists that the blockade is a pressure tool, it can release Schalit and force Hamas to stop resistance," the official said.
"On the contrary, it becomes more extremist."
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