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Gunfire at Egypt's Gaza crossing | Gunfire at Egypt's Gaza crossing |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Egyptian security guards have fired into the air and used water cannon to drive back Palestinian women who tried to surge across the border from Gaza. | Egyptian security guards have fired into the air and used water cannon to drive back Palestinian women who tried to surge across the border from Gaza. |
Hundreds of Palestinians demanded the Rafah crossing to Egypt be reopened for vital supplies that are scarce because of Israel's blockade of Gaza. | Hundreds of Palestinians demanded the Rafah crossing to Egypt be reopened for vital supplies that are scarce because of Israel's blockade of Gaza. |
A number of people were injured, mostly in scuffles, but several were seriously hurt, according to reports. | A number of people were injured, mostly in scuffles, but several were seriously hurt, according to reports. |
It came as Israel eased a four-day Gaza lockdown by allowing fuel deliveries. | It came as Israel eased a four-day Gaza lockdown by allowing fuel deliveries. |
The UN Security Council met in an emergency session on Tuesday to discuss Gaza. | The UN Security Council met in an emergency session on Tuesday to discuss Gaza. |
Rocket attacks | Rocket attacks |
As the 15-member body met in New York, Israel said its discussions were one-sided. | As the 15-member body met in New York, Israel said its discussions were one-sided. |
Gaza's rocket threat to Israel'Wartime' on Israeli border class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7203458.stm">Gaza diary: Day One | |
Its foreign ministry said in a statement: "We can't tolerate a situation where the Security Council debates only the situation of residents in the Gaza Strip and completely ignores that of Israelis living under the constant threat of Qassam rockets." | Its foreign ministry said in a statement: "We can't tolerate a situation where the Security Council debates only the situation of residents in the Gaza Strip and completely ignores that of Israelis living under the constant threat of Qassam rockets." |
Since Hamas seized control of Gaza last June, the Rafah crossing has remained mostly closed at Israel's insistence. | Since Hamas seized control of Gaza last June, the Rafah crossing has remained mostly closed at Israel's insistence. |
But violence broke out as Palestinians tried to get past Egyptian security forces at the terminal, Gaza's only border post that bypasses Israel. | But violence broke out as Palestinians tried to get past Egyptian security forces at the terminal, Gaza's only border post that bypasses Israel. |
Gunfire erupted as security forces tried to stop hundreds of demonstrators breaking through to the Egyptian side. | Gunfire erupted as security forces tried to stop hundreds of demonstrators breaking through to the Egyptian side. |
'Fabrication' | 'Fabrication' |
One of the protesters, mother-of-five Umm Mohammed, 42, told AFP news agency: "Why doesn't Egypt open the crossing? Because [US President George W Bush] gives them dollars." | One of the protesters, mother-of-five Umm Mohammed, 42, told AFP news agency: "Why doesn't Egypt open the crossing? Because [US President George W Bush] gives them dollars." |
The trouble came as Israel said its blockade - imposed last week in response to rocket attacks from Gaza - was being eased only for Tuesday and would be reviewed after that. | The trouble came as Israel said its blockade - imposed last week in response to rocket attacks from Gaza - was being eased only for Tuesday and would be reviewed after that. |
HAVE YOUR SAYThe blockade will exacerbate the security dilemma for IsraelGwilym, Oxford Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThe blockade will exacerbate the security dilemma for IsraelGwilym, Oxford Send us your comments |
The UN had warned that food aid to about 860,000 Gazans could be halted within days because of the restrictions. | The UN had warned that food aid to about 860,000 Gazans could be halted within days because of the restrictions. |
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice blamed Hamas for the lockdown but said she had urged Israel to avoid a humanitarian crisis. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice blamed Hamas for the lockdown but said she had urged Israel to avoid a humanitarian crisis. |
Israel allowed lorries to deliver industrial diesel for Gaza's sole power plant on Tuesday. | Israel allowed lorries to deliver industrial diesel for Gaza's sole power plant on Tuesday. |
The Israeli foreign ministry said it would allow more fuel to be delivered in the coming days along with food and medicine. | The Israeli foreign ministry said it would allow more fuel to be delivered in the coming days along with food and medicine. |
'Futile launchings' | 'Futile launchings' |
But Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas labelled the move "insufficient" and called for a total end to the blockade. | But Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas labelled the move "insufficient" and called for a total end to the blockade. |
He said civilians in Gaza were not responsible for the "futile launchings" of rockets into Israel. | He said civilians in Gaza were not responsible for the "futile launchings" of rockets into Israel. |
The blockade forced the Nusseirat power plant to shut down on Monday, plunging Gaza City into darkness. | The blockade forced the Nusseirat power plant to shut down on Monday, plunging Gaza City into darkness. |
Gaza's only power plant is now being refuelled | Gaza's only power plant is now being refuelled |
But Israel accused Hamas of "fabricating" the power shortage, saying it was still directly providing nearly 70% of the coastal territory's power. | But Israel accused Hamas of "fabricating" the power shortage, saying it was still directly providing nearly 70% of the coastal territory's power. |
The Israeli government said its lockdown had stopped missile attacks - although another rocket struck the Israeli town of Sderot on Tuesday. | The Israeli government said its lockdown had stopped missile attacks - although another rocket struck the Israeli town of Sderot on Tuesday. |
But Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "The real crisis of our Palestinian people is the continuing siege on the Gaza Strip." | But Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "The real crisis of our Palestinian people is the continuing siege on the Gaza Strip." |
The European Union and international agencies have denounced Israel's border closures as illegal "collective punishment" against Gaza's 1.5m residents. | The European Union and international agencies have denounced Israel's border closures as illegal "collective punishment" against Gaza's 1.5m residents. |
Israel imposed an economic embargo on Gaza after the Islamist militants of Hamas seized control of the territory from the rival Fatah group in June. | Israel imposed an economic embargo on Gaza after the Islamist militants of Hamas seized control of the territory from the rival Fatah group in June. |