Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 
Egypt Closes Rafah Crossing Indefinitely, Hamas Calls for Sea Convoys to Bust the Blockade

 

 

Egypt closes Rafah crossing indefinitely

[ 19/08/2013 - 11:08 AM ]

RAFAH, (PIC)--

The Egyptian authorities told Palestinian officials at the Rafah crossing that the terminal would be closed in both directions until further notice.

Responsible sources in Gaza told the PIC reporter that the Egyptian authorities claimed that the closure was due to the security conditions and tensions in Egypt in general and in Sinai Peninsula in particular especially after 24 Egyptian policemen were killed in an attack on two buses in Egyptian Rafah on Monday morning.

The Rafah crossing is experiencing its worst days since the end of last June after the Egyptian military ousted the elected president Mohammed Morsi. The Egyptian authorities closed the crossing for several days then opened it partially for a few hours for certain categories of people.

Hamas calls for biggest ever sea convoy to bust Gaza blockade

[ 18/08/2013 - 09:46 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Hamas movement called on free people of the region and the world to exert all efforts possible to lift the siege on Gaza Strip especially after the closure of Rafah crossing and destruction of most of the tunnels.

Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, called in a press release on Sunday for organizing the biggest ever sea convoy to Gaza to break its siege after the latest developments.

The Gaza Strip has been under siege since 2006 but its impact gravely worsened following the 30th June events in Egypt, as the Egyptian army destroyed Rafah tunnels and blocked entry of goods into the coastal enclave while almost completely closing the Rafah crossing.

Official: Egypt closes Rafah crossing after Sinai attack

Maan, August 19, 2013, 13:59 CAIRO (AFP) --

Egypt closed its Rafah border crossing in Sinai with the Gaza Strip on Monday after a deadly attack nearby that killed 25 soldiers, a border official told AFP.

Last week, Egypt said it would close the crossing indefinitely, but it was partially reopened on Saturday, according to the Hamas-run interior ministry in Gaza.

The decision to close the crossing, which is the only way most Palestinians in Gaza can leave the territory, comes after 25 Egyptian soldiers were killed in an attack nearby.

The Egyptian soldiers were executed by gunmen after two buses were ambushed in north Sinai, a Ma'an correspondent said.

It is the deadliest attack on Egypt's armed forces since militants killed 16 soldiers near the Gaza fence last August.