200-strong security force is deployed on Egypt-Gaza border to enable the safe return of stranded Palestinians

Palestinians waiting to pass Rafah Crossing(MaanArchive)

1 July 2007

Gaza - Ma'an – In response to a directive from the dismissed Palestinian government, 200 members of the Palestinian security forces were deployed on the border between Egypt and Gaza on Sunday morning.

Captain of the security forces, Ibrahim Abu Al Haija, said 200 force members, along with Hamas volunteers, wish to enact their "national mission". He said their national mission is to secure the borders.

The spokesperson of Hamas, Fawzi Barhoum, issued a statement saying "the former national government and Hamas movement work hard to reopen Rafah Crossing in order to enable Palestinians, trapped on the Egyptian side, to return home".

Barhoum added "the Palestinians will endeavor to secure the Palestinian path on the Egyptian-Gazan border, while the Egyptians will try to secure the same path on the Egyptian side."

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Palestinian woman dies at Rafah Crossing

1 July 2007

Gaza – Ma'an – A Palestinian woman from Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, died at Rafah Crossing on Sunday after a severe deterioration in her health.

Taghreed Muhammad 'Aabed, aged 31, a mother of five, had traveled to Egypt for urgent medical treatment for cancer.

When she attempted to return to Gaza, through the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the strip, she was detained along with 5,000 other Palestinians.

The stranded citizens of Gaza have spent the past twenty days suffering in extreme heat due to the Israeli closure of the crossing.

The European monitors at the crossing left in response to the dangers posed by the violent conflict in the Gaza Strip. Once the crossing fell under full Israeli control it was closed.

'Aabed's family have urged all concerned parties to reopen the crossing so that they can bury Taghreed in her home town.