Israel flotilla attack: Egypt opens border with Gaza

[tekisui]

Source: Guardian

Egypt opened its border with the Gaza Strip today amid mounting criticism of Israel's violent raid against the flotilla of ships carrying aid and supplies to breach the three-year blockade of the enclave.

The opening prompted thousands of Palestinians to cross the border at Rafah as Turkey called for Israel to be punished for the attack, which left at least nine people dead. Volatility in the area was further underlined by reports that five members of Islamic Jihad were killed in Gaza in two separate attacks.

The Israeli army confirmed its aircraft had shot at militants in Gaza, killing three, after they had fired rockets into southern Israel, and that two gunmen were killed after breaching Israel's border fence.

Earlier, putting aside his hostility to Hamas, which has links to his political opponent, the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, ordered that the crossing be opened until further notice. The move is being seen as a response to Arab anger at what is perceived as Egyptian complicity in the blockade, which has increased sharply since yesterday's raid.

The border normally only opens once a month for a few days.

An Egyptian security source told Reuters: "Egypt opened its border with the Gaza Strip to allow humanitarian and medical aid to enter. The border will remain open for an unlimited time."

more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/01/israel-flotilla-attack-egypt-borders

[Jim__]

1. That's good news - I think relief supplies need to get through to Gaza.

[JCMach1]

2. Egypt has been nearly as pig-headed as Israel about this...

Now if the douchebags in Hamas will just STFU and get out of the way of the peace process...