CAIRO: An aid convoy intended for Gaza that had been stuck in Al-Arish for the better part of last week finally crossed through the Karem Abu Salem crossing Friday afternoon.
The convoy passed through at 2:30 in the afternoon, was received by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees and its cargo was unloaded.
The convoy comprised five trucks carrying 60 tons of wheat, sugar and medical supplies for Gaza residents who have been living under a blockade for over a year and a half now.
The convoy had been stuck in front of the Red Crescent headquarters in Al-Arish because Israel had refused to open the Karem Abu Salem crossing – used to transport cargo – due to continued rocket fire targeting southern Israel, according to sources in the area.
Security on the border with Gaza was put on high alert because of the end of the truce Egypt mediated between Hamas and Israel and fears that a border breach like the one that occurred last January could be repeated.
North Sinai governor Mohammed Abdel-Fadeel Shoosha said in a meeting with the executive council of the governorate that he was “fearful of any actions by the Palestinians to put pressure on Egypt.
Sources in the area told Daily News Egypt that tunnel activity has slowed to halt on the border because of fears of what might happen to Gaza as Israel threatened an offensive of some sort.
The tunnels beneath the border are used to smuggle a myriad of goods that are lacking in Gaza due to the blockade.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was in Cairo Thursday and placed the onus squarely on Hamas for the deterioration of the situation in Gaza.
“Enough is enough. The situation is going to change. Unfortunately there is one address to the situation of the people in the Gaza Strip, this is Hamas, Hamas controls them, Hamas decided to target Israel, this is something that has to be stopped and this is what we’re going to do.
Violence broke out right after the truce expired and Israeli attacks on Gaza have already begun, as Egypt again looks to extend the truce.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was in Egypt Tuesday holding talks with President Hosni Mubarak about negotiating a new truce with Israel. Abbas also said that he had agreed to an Egyptian proposal to restart talks of a new unity government with Hamas.
