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Gaza, Egypt border 'blown up'
23/01/2008 13:05 - (SA)
Gaza City - Masked Palestinian gunmen detonated explosives early on Wednesday next to the border wall separating Gaza and Egypt causing several holes in the iron barrier, witnesses said.
Dozens of residents gathered at the border waiting to cross as Hamas forces gathered on the scene and prevented people from getting through, the witnesses reported.
On the other side, Egypt deployed troops to block any infiltration attempts from Gaza.
A similar explosion took place shortly after Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in September 2005, when Gaza militants smuggled weapons and people through the border.
No one took immediate responsibility for Wednesday's attack. Witnessed reported seven holes in the wall. Egyptian forces were shining spotlights on to the gaps. It didn't seem as if anyone had immediately crossed the border.
The incident comes after Israel sent fuel to Gaza's power plant on Tuesday, easing its blockade of the territory after five days amid growing international concern about a humanitarian crisis.
Israel imposed the blockade last Thursday after a spike in the daily rocket barrages from Gaza at southern Israel.
Hamas officials in Gaza had called on Egypt to open its border to ease the blockade of Gaza.
Hundreds of Hamas supporters briefly broke through the Gaza-Egypt border on Tuesday, clashing with Egyptian riot police, leaving 70 hurt on both sides.
The protesters hurled insults at Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, calling him a coward.
Egypt has kept its border closed, tacitly supported Israel's blockade, reflecting concerns about a spill over of Hamas-style militancy to its territory.
- AP
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