Region | Palestinian Territories

Egypt fires water cannons at Palestinians

Egyptian forces fired water cannons at Palestinians trying to force their way across the Gaza-Egypt border on Friday, witnesses said.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 13:30 January 25, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • On Friday, Egyptian security men were trying to block Palestinians from entering the border.
  • Image Credit: AP
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Rafah: Egyptian forces fired water cannons at Palestinians trying to force their way across the Gaza-Egypt border on Friday, witnesses said.

Egyptian forces also warned over loudspeakers that the border would close at 3 pm (1300 GMT). They still do not have direct orders to fully close the border.

The clash comes two days after Palestinians destroyed the border in defiance of an Israeli blockade, which has stopped the flow of food and fuel supplies to Gaza.

On Friday, Egyptian security men were trying to block Palestinians from entering the border and have began placing barbed wire near the collapsed portion of the wall.

Witnesses said Palestinians threw stones at Egyptian forces, who responded by beating some Palestinians with clubs and firing several shots into the air.

Israel has tightened its blockade of Gaza to force Hamas to prevent rocket attacks by its fighters. Hamas said the Israeli blockade has caused a humanitarian disaster in Gaza.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it was up to Egypt to secure its border with Gaza, while Israel said Hamas fighters could use the situation to smuggle arms into Gaza.

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