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Egyptians retreat from Gaza fence Egypt watches Gaza traffic go on
(about 1 hour later)
Egyptian security forces have pulled back from the border with Gaza after an apparent failure to reseal it. For a fourth day, Egypt is grappling with the problem of what to do about the thousands of Palestinians spilling over its border with the Gaza Strip.
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. On Saturday, heavy traffic continued across the border in both directions, AP news agency reported, after a bid by Egypt to reseal it failed on Friday.
A bulldozer made fresh holes in the border earlier, after Egyptian troops managed to seal earlier breaches. AP also reported that for the first time many Palestinians were using cars to cross, rather than going on foot.
Meanwhile confusion surrounded reports that Egypt's president offered to host talks for rival Palestinian groups. The Palestinians are defying a blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip by Israel.
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. Israel has said the blockade was necessary to try to halt rocket fire into Israel from Gaza.
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. But it had faced accusations of imposing illegal "collective punishment" on residents of Gaza, which is controlled by the Islamist group Hamas.
A statement calling for talks had been in the council all week, but was finally blocked by Libya, which currently chairs the Security Council. Traffic
Yellow bulldozer On Friday, Egyptian police withdrew from the border area after violent skirmishes with Gazans, some of whom used a bulldozer to tear down parts of the border fence.
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 commentsEGYPT-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
There appeared to be no attempt to halt the stream of cross-border traffic on Saturday, with AP reporting only two guards present at the main crossing.
It said as well as Palestinians travelling into Egypt to stock up, and even to visit an Egyptian resort, some Egyptian vehicles were seen transporting supplies into Gaza.
Hundreds of thousands of people have surged into Egypt to buy supplies since the first breaches in the border wall were made on Wednesday.
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 alarm
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. Israel, alarmed at the ongoing breakdown in security on the Egypt-Gaza border, has closed the main road running along the border. Tourism sites and hiking trails have been closed.
A large yellow bulldozer was driven to the border from the Gaza side, ploughing headlong into the border fence. Security measures have been increased, according to the Israeli military, on fears that Israeli citizens could be vulnerable to attacks by Palestinians now free to travel in the area.
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. But Friday's failed bid by Egyptian riot police to plug gaps in the border was a humiliating setback for Cairo, which must now decide how to respond, say correspondents.
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
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
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.
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. Talks
Egypt may now have to consider talks with Hamas, which it has previously ruled out, our correspondent adds. Late on Friday, the United Nations Security Council failed to reach agreement on a state of "deep concern" about the situation.
Israeli officials said police were on increased alert because of warnings about infiltration and fears that militants will acquire more weapons in Egypt. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7209840.stm">Timeline: Blockade crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7207744.stm">Gaza diary: Day Three class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7209199.stm">In pictures: Border day three
A statement calling for talks had been in the council all week, but was finally blocked by Libya, which currently chairs the Security Council.
Meanwhile, confusion surrounds reports that Egypt's president offered to host talks for rival Palestinian groups.
Hamas's 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".
Correspondents say the incursions by hundreds of thousands of Gazans are forcing Egypt, Israel and the international community to rethink their policy of trying to weaken the Hamas leadership by keeping the territory sealed.
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