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Egypt tightens Gaza border gaps Egypt arrests militants from Gaza
(about 13 hours later)
Egyptian forces have begun to prevent Palestinian vehicles from crossing sections of its Gaza border which were destroyed by Hamas militants last week. Egypt has arrested 15 Palestinians armed with weapons and explosives who are believed to have crossed the Gaza border since it was breached last week.
The tightening of border controls came as Hamas and Egyptian officials met in Cairo to discuss the crisis. The men, who were detained in the Sinai peninsula, also had detonators, flak jackets and grenades, officials said.
A spokesman for Hamas, which wants official control of the border, said these talks were at an early stage. The arrests came as Egyptian government officials held talks with the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, on how to re-establish border controls.
Hamas has indicated that it could prevent Egypt from sealing the border if its role is not recognised. A Hamas official said progress had been made, but no agreement was reached.
The group, which seized control of the Gaza Strip in June, is pressing for a role in how the border crossing is operated in the future.
Hamas has indicated that it could prevent Egypt from sealing the frontier if it is not officially recognised. A previous Egyptian attempt last Friday ended with militants bulldozing a second hole in the border.
Map of the Egypt-Gaza border area Map of the Egypt-Gaza border area
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had been crossing freely into the Egyptian border town of Rafah for over a week to buy essential supplies and visit relatives. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had been crossing freely into Egypt near the town of Rafah since 23 January to buy essential supplies made scarce by a recent tightened Israeli blockade.
Hamas personnel were reported to be working alongside Egyptian police in an attempt to stem the flow of people. The Israeli government imposed the restrictions a week earlier after a sharp rise in rocket attacks by militants based in Gaza.
"The order was given, there seems to have been an agreement," an Egyptian policeman at Saladdin Gate told Agence France-Presse. Weapons smuggling
We will not give up our legitimacy to anybody Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar Egyptian officials said suspected militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad were among the 15 Palestinians arrested near the border town of al-Arish and in remote parts of Sinai in recent days.
Egypt has used barbed wire and cement to close sections of the border and security personnel have been deployed along the breaches. We will not give up our legitimacy to anybody Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahhar
But pedestrians were still able to cross the border on Thursday and heavily-laden Egyptian trucks were continuing to bring supplies into Gaza. All of those detained had entered Egypt via Rafah, apart from two who had travelled from Gulf Arab states, they added.
A senior Egyptian security officials told Reuters news agency that there was no official word on when the borders would be closed completely. Police are reportedly looking for four other armed Palestinians who are believed to have crossed the border.
Israel has said it is concerned that militants are taking advantage of the freedom of movement to bolster their stores of weapons and explosives.
It has also warned that foreign militants might use the opportunity to infiltrate the coastal territory and launch attacks on Israel.
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 crisis
In order to limit such activity, Egyptian security forces have maintained a tight security cordon in place around the border area to keep Palestinians from travelling further into Egypt.
Barbed wire and cement has also been used to close sections of the border and Egyptian troops have been deployed along the breaches.
On Friday, the forces began preventing Palestinian vehicles crossing into Egypt, but are still allowing people to enter on foot. Heavily-laden Egyptian trucks are also being allowed to continue transporting supplies into Gaza.
A senior Egyptian security official told Reuters news agency on Thursday that there had still not been official word on when the borders would be closed completely.
He said any closure would be incremental to avoid friction with Palestinians.He said any closure would be incremental to avoid friction with Palestinians.
'Contradicts reality''Contradicts reality'
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 The Egyptian government has held talks in Cairo with both Hamas, which controls Gaza, and the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas.
Egypt has held talks in Cairo with both Hamas, which controls Gaza, and the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that Thursday's talks had "concentrated on the facilitation of movement and the entry of Palestinians on the Egyptian-Palestinian border".
Hamas official Sami Abu-Zuhri told Reuters that Thursday's talks had "concentrated on the facilitation of movement and the entry of Palestinians on the Egyptian-Palestinian border". Egypt has been holding talks with Palestinian leaders in Cairo
"It is still early to talk about details," he said."It is still early to talk about details," he said.
Mr Abbas has rejected Hamas' claim over the border and reiterated his refusal to negotiate with Hamas leaders.Mr Abbas has rejected Hamas' claim over the border and reiterated his refusal to negotiate with Hamas leaders.
"Hamas has to end its coup in Gaza, accept all international obligations, and accept holding early elections," he told a press conference. "Hamas has to end its coup in Gaza, accept all international obligations, and accept holding early elections," he told a press conference. "After that, our hearts are open for any dialogue."
"After that, our hearts are open for any dialogue."
But Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahhar said yesterday that discussion about shared control "contradicts reality".But Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahhar said yesterday that discussion about shared control "contradicts reality".
"The reality is that there is a legitimate government. We will not give up our legitimacy to anybody," he said."The reality is that there is a legitimate government. We will not give up our legitimacy to anybody," he said.
Nevertheless, Mr Zahhar said that while no agreement had been reached, some progress had been made.
Cairo wants to see a return to a 2005 agreement by which the border would be controlled by the Palestinian Authority and monitored by the EU and Israel.Cairo wants to see a return to a 2005 agreement by which the border would be controlled by the Palestinian Authority and monitored by the EU and Israel.
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