Friday, January 25, 2008

An Update: Egypt re-opens Rafah crossing



"Just minutes after a deadline passed for the border between Egypt to Gaza to be officially shut down, Palestinians have again broken through.

Fighters broke another hole in the border fence with a bulldozer on Friday, and scores of trucks and pedestrians were seen entering into Egypt.

After the 3 pm (1300 GMT) deadline set for the closure, thousands of Gazans were still believed to be on the Egyptian side of the border in the town of Rafah.

The deadline was earlier announced over megaphones on Egyptian security vehicles driving around al-Arish and Egyptian Rafah.

Speaking from the Gaza side of the crossing, Al Jazeera's correspondent Jacky Rowland said the Rafah crossing is open to business.

"The crossing has become open again. Now the Egyptian police have pulled back and the crossing is open and operating again, people are continuing to go cross the border to buy household goods".

Egyptian security forces in full riot gear were deployed along the border in an attempt to prevent Palestinians crossing over to Egypt to stock up on supplies.

Egyptian troops, in green camouflage, bullet-proof vests and helmets and armed with clubs and plastic shields, formed human chains and rolled out barbed wire to prevent more Gazan's from entering Egypt.

At the same time, Gazans were allowed back into the Strip, witnesses said.

Al Jazeera's Amr El Kahky, on the Egyptian side of the Rahaf crossing said there has been no confrontation between the Egyptian and Palestinians.

"The rules of engagement say no engagement. You can't beat the Palestinians or engage with crossfire with them. Egyptians will not use gunfire to deter Palestinians from trying to cross.

Egypt says the borders will inevitablly seal, whether today or a few days later"......"

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That is the way! Keep the masses mobilized. Keep opening holes; every time they close one, open another. The Egyptians should mass on the Egyptian side of the border to keep the security guard dogs busy, using hit and run tactics.

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