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Tensions high at Gaza crossing Food convoy finally enters Gaza
(about 4 hours later)
Several Israeli tanks have crossed into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and taken positions near the Erez crossing. The first food aid delivery for eight days has arrived in Gaza from Israel, following last week's fighting.
Hundreds of Palestinians are trapped at the crossing, trying to flee Gaza after the radical Islamist movement took over the impoverished coastal strip. Nine lorries crossed the border carrying food and medicine, in a convoy managed by the World Food Programme.
TV pictures showed boys running towards one tank waving empty bottles. The tank crew was seen giving them water. Earlier several Israeli tanks crossed into the Hamas-controlled coastal strip and took positions near Erez crossing.
Israel says a number of Palestinians wounded in Gaza fighting and in a shooting at the crossing have been evacuated to Israeli hospitals.
Hundreds of Palestinians are trapped at the crossing, trying to flee Gaza after the radical Islamist movement Hamas took over the impoverished coastal strip.
Most people fleeing have been denied entry by Israel, which controls the crossing, on security grounds.Most people fleeing have been denied entry by Israel, which controls the crossing, on security grounds.
Medics have been put on standby on the Israeli side to evacuate emergency cases. 'Difficult to arrange'
Army bulldozers piled sand on the road leading to the Erez terminal blocking it, witnesses said. Eighty percent of Gazans are reliant on food and medical aid.
Inside the long dusty concrete tunnel on the south side of the crossing there are no facilities to sustain life, and many people have been left lying there on the bare concrete amid their own filth. Kirsty Campbell, of the WFP who supervised the entry of the aid convoy into Gaza, hoped it would be the first of many.
Amnesty "This is really good news. We've been working very hard with all the different authorities concerned to try to be able to open a food corridor between Israel and Gaza," she told the BBC.
"Since last week's events it's been extremely difficult to arrange that given the change of procedures, and change of authorities. However, today it's a start - it's a really good start."
The BBC's Katya Adler, at the Erez crossing, says the political will is there on all sides to avoid a humanitarian crisis but practical problems remain.
Israel will not co-ordinate with the ruling Hamas faction just over the border as Hamas will not recognise Israel's right to exist.
So complicated third party arrangements are necessary for this food to keep getting through, our correspondent adds.
Roadblocks
The evacuation of wounded Palestinians to Israeli hospitals was conducted under a veil of secrecy, Reuters reported.
This was because of Israeli concerns that Palestinians trapped at the crossing for days since the Gaza fighting would try to flee to Israel.
An official of the International Commission of the Red Cross told Israel Radio some of the wounded had been brought from hospitals inside Gaza to the crossing and were taken by ambulance to Israeli hospitals.
Israeli tanks protected the ambulances by entering the crossing earlier on Tuesday, and army bulldozers removed roadblocks.
On Monday, a Palestinian was killed and a number of others were wounded in an exchange of gunfire at the crossing-point.On Monday, a Palestinian was killed and a number of others were wounded in an exchange of gunfire at the crossing-point.
Palestinian medics said Israeli troops had opened fire but the army said the fire came from a Palestinian gunman.Palestinian medics said Israeli troops had opened fire but the army said the fire came from a Palestinian gunman.
Reports say there are up to 600 Gazans sheltering in the tunnel - about 100 believed to be members of pro-Fatah security forces. Reports say there are hundreds of Gazans sheltering in the long dusty concrete tunnel on the south side of the crossing - some believed to be members of pro-Fatah security forces.
Israeli military officials have blocked the crossing to everyone except those who work for international organisations, people with special permission and emergency cases, saying some of the travellers could be anti-Israel militants.Israeli military officials have blocked the crossing to everyone except those who work for international organisations, people with special permission and emergency cases, saying some of the travellers could be anti-Israel militants.
Hamas declared an amnesty for Fatah fighters after it took control of Gaza, but that has not reassured some travellers.
"They forgave people before, and later killed them. There's no way we'll go back," said a former security officer at Erez.
Correspondents say solving the situation at Erez will be one of the first issues facing Israel's new Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, on the day he took over from the outgoing Amir Peretz, whom he replaced as Labour leader last week.