This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7210311.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Egyptians retreat from Gaza fence | Egyptians retreat from Gaza fence |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Egyptian security forces have pulled back from the border with Gaza after an apparent failure to reseal it. | Egyptian security forces have pulled back from the border with Gaza after an apparent failure to reseal it. |
| Palestinians seemed to be still crossing freely in and out of Egypt for a third consecutive day, to stock up on supplies in defiance of a blockade. | Palestinians seemed to be still crossing freely in and out of Egypt for a third consecutive day, to stock up on supplies in defiance of a blockade. |
| A bulldozer made fresh holes in the border earlier, after Egyptian troops managed to seal earlier breaches. | A bulldozer made fresh holes in the border earlier, after Egyptian troops managed to seal earlier breaches. |
| Meanwhile confusion surrounded reports that Egypt's president offered to host talks for rival Palestinian groups. | |
| Islamist movement Hamas, which controls Gaza, appeared to accept the offer, and its leader in exile, Khaled Meshaal, told Reuters news agency his group would seek to make the dialogue a success. | |
| But the Egyptian foreign ministry told the BBC by text message that reports that Hosni Mubarak had invited Hamas and Fatah to Cairo for discussions were "not accurate". | |
| Map of the Egypt-Gaza border area | Map of the Egypt-Gaza border area |
| Late on Friday, the United Nations Security Council failed to reach agreement on a state of "deep concern" about the situation. | Late on Friday, the United Nations Security Council failed to reach agreement on a state of "deep concern" about the situation. |
| A statement calling for talks had been in the council all week, but was finally blocked by Libya, which currently chairs the Security Council. | A statement calling for talks had been in the council all week, but was finally blocked by Libya, which currently chairs the Security Council. |
| Yellow bulldozer | Yellow bulldozer |
| Hundreds of thousands of people have surged into Egypt to buy supplies since the first breaches in the border wall were made on Wednesday. | Hundreds of thousands of people have surged into Egypt to buy supplies since the first breaches in the border wall were made on Wednesday. |
| EGYPT-GAZA BORDER 12km (7.4 miles) longEgyptian side patrolled by 750 soldiers under 2005 agreement with IsraelBorder crossing terminal south of town of RafahPA control of terminal under EU supervision collapsed after Hamas takeover of Gaza in June 2007 Border closed almost continuously since Crisis key to Gaza futureIsrael torn over Gaza roleSend us your comments | EGYPT-GAZA BORDER 12km (7.4 miles) longEgyptian side patrolled by 750 soldiers under 2005 agreement with IsraelBorder crossing terminal south of town of RafahPA control of terminal under EU supervision collapsed after Hamas takeover of Gaza in June 2007 Border closed almost continuously since Crisis key to Gaza futureIsrael torn over Gaza roleSend us your comments |
| The UN has estimated that as much as half of Gaza's 1.5 million population has crossed the border in defiance of Israel's blockade, which was recently tightened leading to acute shortages. | The UN has estimated that as much as half of Gaza's 1.5 million population has crossed the border in defiance of Israel's blockade, which was recently tightened leading to acute shortages. |
| Israel imposed the embargo after a sharp rise in rocket attacks from Gaza on its southern towns. | Israel imposed the embargo after a sharp rise in rocket attacks from Gaza on its southern towns. |
| The new breach came hours after Egyptian security forces had begun to stop Palestinians from entering their country while at the same time allowing people back into Gaza. | The new breach came hours after Egyptian security forces had begun to stop Palestinians from entering their country while at the same time allowing people back into Gaza. |
| A large yellow bulldozer was driven to the border from the Gaza side, ploughing headlong into the border fence. | A large yellow bulldozer was driven to the border from the Gaza side, ploughing headlong into the border fence. |
| The BBC's Aleem Maqbool at the border says Egypt's attempt to seal it is being seen as a minor interruption by Palestinians in search of supplies. | The BBC's Aleem Maqbool at the border says Egypt's attempt to seal it is being seen as a minor interruption by Palestinians in search of supplies. |
| People were continuing to ferry essential goods such as petrol and cooking oil back into Gaza, as they have for the past two days, eyewitnesses said. | People were continuing to ferry essential goods such as petrol and cooking oil back into Gaza, as they have for the past two days, eyewitnesses said. |
| No help from Hamas | No help from Hamas |
| But the latest incident is a humiliating setback for Cairo, which must now decide how to respond, the BBC's Ian Pannell, on the Egyptian side of the border, says. | But the latest incident is a humiliating setback for Cairo, which must now decide how to respond, the BBC's Ian Pannell, on the Egyptian side of the border, says. |
| GAZA BLOCKADE 17 January: Israel seals border following rise in rocket attacks20 January: Gaza's only power plant shuts down22 January: Israel eases restrictions22 January: Egyptian border guards disperse Palestinian protest against closure23 January: Border wall breached Timeline: Blockade crisisGaza diary: Day ThreeIn pictures: Border day three | GAZA BLOCKADE 17 January: Israel seals border following rise in rocket attacks20 January: Gaza's only power plant shuts down22 January: Israel eases restrictions22 January: Egyptian border guards disperse Palestinian protest against closure23 January: Border wall breached Timeline: Blockade crisisGaza diary: Day ThreeIn pictures: Border day three |
| The move by the Egyptian authorities came only hours after the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, urged them to secure the border with Gaza. | The move by the Egyptian authorities came only hours after the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, urged them to secure the border with Gaza. |
| Israel has stepped up its security since the border fence was destroyed, with citizens warned against travelling to Egypt's Sinai peninsula. | Israel has stepped up its security since the border fence was destroyed, with citizens warned against travelling to Egypt's Sinai peninsula. |
| Hamas said it respected Egypt's decision to close the border but it did nothing to assist the Egyptians on the ground. | Hamas said it respected Egypt's decision to close the border but it did nothing to assist the Egyptians on the ground. |
| Israel had demanded Egypt take action, as it is worried about arms smuggling. | Israel had demanded Egypt take action, as it is worried about arms smuggling. |
| Egypt may now have to consider talks with Hamas, which it has previously ruled out, our correspondent adds. | Egypt may now have to consider talks with Hamas, which it has previously ruled out, our correspondent adds. |
| Israeli officials said police were on increased alert because of warnings about infiltration and fears that militants will acquire more weapons in Egypt. | Israeli officials said police were on increased alert because of warnings about infiltration and fears that militants will acquire more weapons in Egypt. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |