Clashes followed by threats: Egypt warned Hamas on Wednesday night that there was a limit to its patience and that any attempt to provoke the Egyptian security forces would claim a price.
The Foreign Ministry in Cairo made the announcement following Wednesday's violent clashes on the Gaza-Egypt border, which left an Egyptian border guard killed by sniper fire and nine policemen injured. Dozens of Palestinians were also hurt in the riots.
The violent riots began on Tuesday night at the El-Arish port, after Egyptian authorities refused to allow member of the Viva Palestina international organization to bring all of their aid vehicles into the Gaza Strip.
The delegation included international activists calling for an end to the blockade on Gaza, led by British Parliament Member George Galloway and 17 Turkish parliament members. In response, the activists hurled stones and barricaded themselves, taking four policemen with them.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman added that the Egyptian authorities have announced they plan to ease the convoy's movement and have informed the Turks, who are part of the delegation. He said, however, that Egypt was surprised by 43 cars "lacking any human character, which were not carrying any aid goods and which were not reported to the authorities."
The Egyptian declaration also stated that many of those who took part in the delegation exposed, unfortunately, the extent of blind hostility towards the Egyptian people, in spite of all the help given to the delegation.
"Egypt's security forces acted with restraint in response to the aggressiveness of those who evoked the acts of violence and whose actions border on crimes," the Foreign Ministry statement concluded.
Front Page Features