Egypt opens border with Gaza for humanitarian aid

[maddezmom]

Source: The Telegraph

Egypt's Rafah crossing point is the only border post from Gaza that is not fully controlled by Israel.

Cairo has opened it only sparingly since Hamas Islamists, who are allied to Egypt's opposition, seized control in Gaza three years ago.


The order came a day after Monday's deadly raid by Israeli commandos on an aid flotilla bound for Gaza.

"Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has given orders to open the Rafah border crossing to allow humanitarian and medical aid into the Gaza Strip, as well as to receive medical cases which require access to Egyptian territory," said Egyptian news agency MENA.


Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/7793599/Egypt-opens-border-with-Gaza-for-humanitarian-aid.html

[Catherina]

1. And keep it open n/t

[mikita]

16. Yes! n/t

[Ian David]

2. What? Egypt is blockading Gaza, too? Should THEY be wiped off the map as well? n/t

[BeFree]

3. That's stupid

Egypt was pressured by Israel to blockade Gaza. They went along with the Israeli plan.
Now they are telling Israel to stick it. That's all.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[msongs]

4. of course, if the border crossing is in international waters lol nt

[David__77]

12. In the sense that its people would benefit from a new state, yes.

The Nassarist state is moribund and will surely be superseded by something, hopefully better. I mean, the Soviet Union was "wiped off the map," but its people remained.

[The Stranger]

14. But the "Nassarist state" hasn't been occupying its neighbors for 40+ years.

So first things first.

[David__77]

15. I'm not saying the issues are linked... just answering the question.

Arguably, though, Turkey IS occupying Kurdistan. The Turkish state is backward and no friend to anything progressive. But a clock stopped is right sometimes.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

19. Well, they just stopped doing so.

When will Israel do likewise?

[Ignis]

23. Nice hyperbole. Who on DU is crying for Israel to be "wiped off the map?"

Also, I realize that facts are pesky things, but Gaza is in Israel, not Egypt. The Egyptians aren't responsible for the state of apartheid created by Israel.

[Recursion]

24. Advocating regime change in Israel is always cast as advocating the slaughter of every Israeli

I even have some understanding for where that frame of mind comes from (somewhere between the Rhein and the Volga). But, it's a basic political fact that that is how calls for regime change are received, so people should be circumspect about making them.

[Ignis]

25. That's a fair point.

But I haven't seen a single post calling for the destruction of Israel that hasn't been swiftly (and appropriately) deleted by the mods.

Isn't it interesting, however, that many of those who are hawks in the ME when it comes to Israel are quite willing to embrace "regime change" in Iraq, etc.?

[sabrina 1]

29. Not any more. Israel's aggression is finally

waking people up. I guess Egypt cares more now about the reaction of the rest of the world should they continue to assist Israel in their criminal actions in the Gaza Strip.

It's a little late, but better late than never and hopefully only the beginning of the positive repercussions to the attack on the humanitarian mission to help the people in Gaza. I hoped some good could come of that tragic event, and this is a good start.

[Scurrilous]

5. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Tripmann]

6. Excellent

A small chink of light emerges from the executions yesterday of those aid workers.

[femrap]

7. k and r

glad to hear this.

The Israelis who are 'partying' in front of the Turkish embassy....will they now move over to Egypt's and protest? Maybe Egypt has no embassy or consulate in Israel...not sure.

[UndertheOcean]

9. Excellent ! n/t

[Mari333]

10. Netanyahu screwed the proverbial goose with that attack

now the consequences will occur.

hopefully humanitarian aid will continue, now.

[Wizard777]

11. This is wonderful news. Egypt shows that they are a compassionate nation. God bless them.

[activa8tr]

13. Wish that Israel were as compassionate , but, no way!

[thereismore]

17. Thank you Egypt! nt

[fascisthunter]

18. why has it taken them so long?

question to those in the know... was there an agreement made with the Israeli gov. to not open borders for aid?

I see Hamas is allies with Eqypt's present political opposition right now. Is that why?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

20. I too would like to know. Your speculations are plausible, though. -nt

[madrchsod]

21. both Israel and Egypt allow the tunnels to operate

either side has the ability to destroy the tunnel system if they wanted to. if they did one would see a real genocide instead of genocide by a thousand cuts. middle eastern politics is not based on rational thought processes.
so what did israel actually gain from attacking the ships?.....

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

22. Maybe they want to be perceived as ax crazy?

Sending people a message? "If everybody doesn't do exactly what we want we'll go postal! And by postal, I mean postal with nukes!"

[EFerrari]

27. They sent a message that foreign nationals would be fair game.

That is important because the biggest threat to their illegal siege is the collaboration of protesters from many countries. It's hard to manipulate 40 governments at the same time.

Also, it was a slap down to Turkey, whom Israel wants to keep in line somehow. I don't really understand this bit of it but it may be that Turkey is angling to become our new Israel -- an important proxy in the region.

[EFerrari]

26. Doesn't the United States send Egypt a big fat bribe every year?

[sabrina 1]

30. Egypt was pressured by the U.S. and Israel to close its border

and have been harshly criticized for doing so. Airc, they did keep it open for a day or so each week to allow supplies in to the starving and sick people of Gaza.

Clearly now they are taking advantage of world wide condemnation of the blockade as a result of the killing of the humanitarian activists. I just read, it is open indefinitely 'to relieve the suffering of the Palestinian people'. I'm sure the U.S. will be pressuring them again to close it again though.

I'd say they do not want to be seen as collaborators of Israel anymore. This shows how strong the reaction to the killing of those activists must be as in the past, Egypt did not have the will to oppose the U.S. and Israel.

[fascisthunter]

31. good... I hope the disgust spreads

[New Dawn]

28. Its about fucking time, Mubarak.