Hamas organises protest at Rafah Crossing, demanding it be opened

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Date: 11 / 07 / 2007 Time: 11:26

Rafah - Ma'an -

"I will cut the siege with clippers to allow my wife to cross the crossing and return to me." Simple words said by one of the many Palestinians whose spouses are stranded on the Egyptian side of Rafah Crossing.

Families of the stranded Palestinians gathered on Tuesday to protest against the situation at the crossing, which has prevented their relatives from returning to the Gaza Strip since 10 June.

The protest was organized by Hamas in order to condemn the closure of the crossing and reject the use of Kerem Shalom Crossing as a substitute for Rafah Crossing, as suggested by Israel. Israeli forces would continue to control Kerem Shalom Crossing, whereas the control of Rafah Crossing, between Egypt and Gaza, was previously overseen by European Union monitors.

Ma'an staff reported that members of Hamas' Executive Force were seen manning the crossing but none of the former employees.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri, who participated in the protest, urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and all humanitarian agencies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to strive to end the crisis at the crossing.

Abu Zuhri added, "We will continue our protest in order to end the suffering of the people at the crossing."

The current head of security at the crossing, Mohammad Ashour, said that he refuses to accept the idea of using Kerem Shalom as a substitute for Rafah. Ashour, who was appointed to his position by Hamas since the events of mid-June, threatened that, in such an instance, the "response would be harsh".

In a separate regard, he threatened that he would deal with any international force deployed in the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip as an occupation force. However, he said he would welcome the return of the EU monitors at the crossing.

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