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Israeli blocks Haniya Gaza return | Israeli blocks Haniya Gaza return |
(10 minutes later) | |
Israeli authorities have ordered the closure of a border point with Egypt to prevent the return of the Palestinian PM, Hamas's Ismail Haniya. | |
Mr Haniya is believed to be carrying with him tens of millions of dollars of donations from Iran. | Mr Haniya is believed to be carrying with him tens of millions of dollars of donations from Iran. |
Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz had ordered EU monitors to close the Rafah crossing, Israeli sources said. | Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz had ordered EU monitors to close the Rafah crossing, Israeli sources said. |
Hamas militants, angry that Mr Haniya could not return, engaged into a gun battle with border guards. | |
The Palestinian presidential guard, responsible for security at the border terminal, began firing at them, according to an Associated Press news agency journalist at the terminal. | |
Since Hamas's election earlier this year, there has been a Western-led boycott of the Hamas government. | Since Hamas's election earlier this year, there has been a Western-led boycott of the Hamas government. |
Hamas has partially circumvented the boycott by officials carrying in millions of dollars of cash. | Hamas has partially circumvented the boycott by officials carrying in millions of dollars of cash. |
Israel says that money, in particular from Iran, goes directly to the funding of "terrorist" operations against Israel. | Israel says that money, in particular from Iran, goes directly to the funding of "terrorist" operations against Israel. |
Israel says Mr Haniya will only be allowed to cross into Gaza if he leaves the money - estimated to be millions - on the Egyptian side. |