RAFAH, Egypt: Egypt has begun deploying hundreds more police to strengthen security at its border with the Gaza Strip over fears Palestinians could try to storm it, security sources said on Wednesday. The deployment began late on Tuesday, and sources told Reuters that additional Egyptian security forces had already taken up positions along the border north of the Rafah crossing to reinforce the existing 750 border police.
The Associated Press reported that two explosions early Wednesday caused a large hole in the Gaza-Egypt border wall, according to witnesses, sending people rushing to the open crossing but causing no injuries.
Hamas gunmen rushed to the scene to prevent Gazans from fleeing to Egypt and there were no immediate crossings reported.
Hamas confirmed two explosions took place but denied any hole was created in the wall between Gaza and Egypt.
A security source said that a demonstration on Tuesday by dozens of Palestinians demanding the crossing be opened had increased Egyptian government fears it could be stormed or parts of the cement wall torn down. Thousands of Palestinians have been stranded in Egypt by the closure of the Rafah crossing. Palestinian authorities technically control the crossing, but it can be blocked by Israel. Rafah was closed on June 9 and has remained closed since Hamas forces took over the Gaza Strip days later. Last summer, Hamas gunmen blew a six-meter hole in the Gaza-Egypt border wall, allowing nearly 1,000 stranded Palestinians to cross home during a border closure.
