Hamas Warns Half a Million Could Storm Israel Crossing; Egyptians Visit Gaza

Jan 25, 06:17 AM

The pro-Fatah Palestine Press Agency in Arabic at 1148 gmt on 24 January cites Ahmad Yusuf, political adviser of deposed Prime Minister Isma'il Haniyah, as saying: "'Israel should realize that the next time the situation in the Gaza Strip reaches a boiling point, 500,000 Palestinians will flock to the Erez crossing en route to the Israeli territories.'

"Speaking to Voice of Israel this afternoon, Yusuf said: 'This scenario is not an illusion because, should the need rise, the residents of the Gaza Strip will be ready to sacrifice their lives.' He said that Hamas did not plan in advance the dramatic developments in the Gaza Strip over the past few days that ended with its militiamen blowing up the separation wall and the crossing of tens of thousands of Palestinian citizens into the Egyptian territories. Nevertheless, he admitted that his movement 'exploited the power cut in the Strip to make the Arab and Islamic people pressure their governments to work in favour of the Palestinians.'"

Hamas Leaders Visit Egypt, Egyptian MPs, Journalist Visit Al- Zahhar in Gaza

Bethlehem-based, independent Ma'an News in Arabic at 1907 gmt: "Palestinians are not the only ones crossing the newly-opened Egyptian-Palestinian border. Hundreds of Egyptians could also be seen visiting Gaza on Thursday. Among them was a delegation from the Egyptian People's Party including Muahamadin Sbah, Imad Al-Baluq, and the chief editor of the Egyptian Al-Karama newspaper, Said At- Tukhi, who visited Gaza City on Thursday evening.

"The Egyptian delegation visited the home of Hamas leader and former Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahhar, in order to offer their condolences for the death of his son, Husam, who was killed in an Israeli incursion in Gaza. Some 18 other Palestinians were killed on the same day. The Egyptian officials also visited the headquarters of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

"Egyptians were seen in the markets and shops of Gaza, such as Firas Market and Az-Zawiyah market, known for its peppers and vegetables.

Egyptians made their visits even while official Egypt remained ambivalent about the unregulated flow of people across the border."

The Arabic version of this item adds: "Ma'an has learned that a number of Hamas leaders travelled to Egypt to visit their relatives and perhaps do some shopping."

Egyptian MPs Favour Egypt Provide Electricity, Gas to Gaza Strip

Independent, pro-Hamas Palestinian Media Network in Arabic on 24 January carries an "exclusive" report, saying: "Dr Ahmad Bahr, acting Palestinian Legislative Council [PLC] speaker, received a delegation from the Egyptian Al-Karamah Party headed by the party's Chairman Hamadayn Sabah at the PLC headquarters in Gaza." The report notes that Bahr briefed the delegates on "the situation in the Strip in light of the siege being imposed on it." Speaking to the Palestinian Media Network, Bahr indicated that "this is a historic visit," adding that the delegation "expressed strong solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza and indicated that Palestine and Egypt are one people." Bahr added that the delegates "expressed satisfaction with the opening of the Rafah crossing before Palestinian citizens and their agreement that Egypt provide electricity and gas to the Gaza Strip, promising to study the possibility of bringing the issue up to the Egyptian parliament. They also promised to set up a popular fund to finance this project."

Sources: as listed

(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Middle East. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved. Hamas Warns Half a Million Could Storm Israel Crossing; Egyptians Visit Gaza
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