CAIRO: Israeli air strikes continued to bomb tunnels running underneath the Egypt-Gaza border late on Tuesday and early on Wednesday, sources in the area told Daily News Egypt.
Israeli strikes on the Palestinian side of the border town of Rafah continued for the third day running, with the aim of destroying the tunnels used for smuggling essential goods into the blockaded Gaza Strip as well as weapons.
The tunnels have been integral to sustaining the Gaza Strip through an 18-month blockade in which all crossing points have been sealed off. Israel is adamant that Egypt strengthens its security measures on the border to eliminate them.
Speaking at the Mubarak Police Academy Wednesday on account of Police Day, President Hosni Mubarak reiterated that he would not allow any foreign intervention on Egypt’s border with Gaza.
“Egypt will not allow any foreign observers on its border and the security pact between Israel and the United States is not binding for us in any way, he said.
Mubarak also took a swipe at Hamas implying that their method of resistance was misguided. “Resistance is not about slogans that belittle the blood of martyrs, he said.
The only entry point to Gaza not under Israeli control, the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, is to be closed today after it had been temporarily opened for humanitarian purposes during Israel’s 22-day war on Gaza last month.
Opposition groups in the area will be at the crossing today to monitor the closure and ascertain how they intend to lobby for its permanent reopening.
“All the public and political forces in Egypt besides the government want the Rafah crossing opened on a permanent basis for the benefit of the Palestinian people, Democratic Front Party representative in the area Mohammed El Menei’ told Daily News Egypt.
An unnamed official had told Al-Ahram newspaper Tuesday that the Rafah crossing would be closed starting today citing safety considerations. Analysts say this is an indication of possible Israeli escalations.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum had said after meetings with Egyptian officials Tuesday that the Rafah crossing might be opened to allow materials necessary for the reconstruction of Gaza after the offensive.
However on Wednesday, the Hamas official in Gaza responsible for crossing points, Adel Zo’rob, said that Egypt had informed them that the crossing would be closed Thursday but did not give a reason.
“Egypt told us the crossing will be closed on Thursday and no one will be able to cross, he said, adding that it will be open for “delegations and patients.
Meanwhile, former leader of the banned Labor party and former editor of Al Shaab newspaper Magdi Ahmed Hussain who had been taken into custody upon returning from Gaza last week, was referred to the military police in Al-Arish after having initially been held in the Rafah police station.
He is expected to be transported to military police in Ismailia today pending further investigations into his visit, specifically on how he entered Gaza.
Hussain was arrested Saturday after arriving at the Rafah border crossing after spending two weeks in the Strip.
Authorities claim that he had entered Gaza illegally through one of the border tunnels. His party claims he had entered through an opening in the border wall.
