Hunger Strike at Rafah Terminal Enters Third Day, 6,000 Palestinians Stranded on Border Because of Israeli Closure

Editorial Note: The following news reports may be summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology.

Hunger strike at Rafah terminal enters third day; strikers on water-only fast

Monday July 09, 2007 02:01 by Saed Bannoura - - IMEMC Editorial Group saed at imemc dot org

Palestinian citizens stranded at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border terminal declared on Sunday that they had entered the second stage of their hunger strike, which started two days ago, and would consume water and salt only.

The abandoned civilians said in a statement that the step followed the deterioration of their humanitarian and psychological conditions after being stuck at the border crossing for more than four weeks.

They asked the media to shed light on their issue and to inquire about their conditions on daily basis. More than 6,000 Palestinians are trapped at the borders under tragic living conditions, a number of them died while hundreds others are suffering after returning from medical treatment but could not go back to their homes in Gaza.

The IOF troops closed the Rafah terminal since June 26 last year after the capture of an IOF serviceman in Gaza and only allowed its operation at separate intervals but since June 9 this year, when Hamas took over control of Gaza security, the IOF troops completely sealed off the terminal.

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Hardship of trapped Palestinians on Rafah border used for political purposes, Hamas says

Monday July 09, 2007 13:14 by Nisreen Qumsieh - IMEMC News news at imemc dot org

Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, has condemned the continued closure of the Rafah border terminal in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement released to the press, Abu Zuhri sated:

"The Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, reiterates its refusal to open the Karm Abu Salem border as an alternative to the Rafah border terminal. Hamas also rejects the policy of the Palestinian Authority which uses the extortion and the hardship of the Palestinians who are trapped at the Rafah border terminal to achieve political purposes. The refusal of the Palestinian Authority to open the Rafah border and attempt to instead use the Karm abu Salem border would restore the Gaza Strip under the direct control of Israel."

Abu Zuhri added that the Palestinian Authority was responsible for the health and humanitarian hardships aggravated by the border closing, and for ensuring harmony with the Israeli occupation at the expense of Palestinians.

Hamas called for all Arab parties to take a role in bringing an end to this crime against Palestinians, and to end the hardship by putting pressure on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to allow the border to open.

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