Egypt made preparations Friday for an expected IDF operation in Gaza by reinforcing security along its border with the Strip. Egyptian security forces are concerned that an IDF operation would lead to an attempt by Gazans to break through the Rafah border crossing, AFP reported. Meanwhile, although Israel stepped up its threatening rhetoric against them, Gaza terrorists intensified their attacks, firing at least 25 mortar shells at the South overnight Thursday and early Friday, one of which hit a building in the Eshkol region. No one was wounded in the attacks, but the building was damaged. Despite the mortar shell fire, Israel allowed humanitarian aid into Gaza on Friday morning. The IDF said approximately 90 trucks delivered medicine, fuel, cooking gas and other vital goods into Gaza. The shipment included a large donation of goods from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s wife as well as more than 400,000 liters of fuel and 200 tons of natural gas, the military said. Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided Thursday to open the Kerem Shalom and Sufa crossings to allow the transfer of the humanitarian supplies to Gaza. The shipment was originally scheduled to enter Gaza on Wednesday but […]
Saturday, December 27th, 2008
Egypt Reinforces Gaza Border Security
Author: HERB KEINON and YAAKOV KATZ
Source: The Jerusalem Post (Israel)
Publication Date: Dec. 26, 2008
Link: Egypt Reinforces Gaza Border Security
Source: The Jerusalem Post (Israel)
Publication Date: Dec. 26, 2008
Link: Egypt Reinforces Gaza Border Security
Stephan: I think the Gaza situation may be the first foreign policy crisis for the Obama Administration. Hamas has reached a surreal level of self-destructive violence. In the process of sending 60 rockets and mortars into Israel, several went astray and killed many Gazans living nearby, a number of them children. I think that is going to be very hard for Gazans to take aboard. Particularly as they are also being squeezed to death from both the Egyptian and Israeli sides because of the violence of the few. This situation cannot be sustained, some factor has to change, and with extreme violence probable, if not managed properly.