Wednesday January 06, 2010 21:28 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The Viva Palestina Convoy, and after facing ongoing Egyptian rejection and violent attacks by the Egyptian security forces, started on Wednesday evening to roll into the besieged Gaza Strip.

Thousands of Palestinians, carrying flowers and flags, gathered in the streets while the convoy continued to move in.

A Press conference would be held on Thursday and would be followed by the official ceremony of handing the international humanitarian aid.

The Qatar-based Al Jazeera reported that a convoy of eight truck started crossing the Rafeh Terminal.

On its website the Viva Palestina reported that “convoy continues to move into the strip to be greeted by flowers and flag-waving crowds. Press conference later to be followed tomorrow with ceremony to hand over the aid”.

35 Palestinians Wounded In Clashes With Egyptian Border Police

Wednesday January 06, 2010 19:51 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported Wednesday that 35 Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip were wounded by Egyptian fire after the Egyptian border police attacked them near the Salah Ed Deen Gate, in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinians were protesting in support to the international activists of the Viva Palestina Convoy who were obstructed from entering Gaza and were violently attacked by the Egyptian forces.

Dr. Moawia Hassanen of the Palestinian Ministry of Health told the Palestine Information Center that five Palestinians were hit by live rounds, and are currently in critical conditions.

Dr. Hassanen added that more than 25 Palestinians’ were wounded by Egyptian fire, while others were treated by medics on the scene.

55 persons were wounded on Tuesday evening in Al Arish Egyptian city during clashes that took place when the Egyptian security forces attacked the international peace activists and supporters carrying humanitarian aid to the residents on Gaza.

Zuhri: “Hamas Is Not Seeking Escalation With Egypt”

Wednesday January 06, 2010 21:06 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, official spokesperson of the Hamas movement in Gaza, reported Wednesday that the movement is not seeking any escalation with the Egyptian government, and added that Hamas is seeking a peaceful solution to the Iron Wall issue, and several important matters.

Dr. Abu Zuhri added that the situation on the border with Egypt and the incident of fire exchange between some fighters and the Egyptian border police were a spontaneous outcome of the anger felt by the Palestinians as Egypt is building the Wall.

He added that the incident which involved opening fire at an Egyptian border guard took place during a protest on the border with Egypt due to the Egyptian rejection to allow the international peace activists into Gaza.

Egypt said that a border guard was killed by Palestinian fire, and eleven Palestinians were wounded during a scuffle with Egyptian border policemen.

Dr. Abu Zuhri further stated that the Palestinian police and security forces tried to push the Palestinians away from the border in order to avoid confrontations with the Egyptian border police.

Hamas leader, Salah Bardaweel, called on the Egyptian leadership to reconsider its position regarding the Iron Wall, as this wall causes real humanitarian crisis in Gaza and its residents, especially since the coastal region is already impoverished by the Israeli siege.

He also called on the Egyptian leaders to facilitate the entry of “The Artery Of Life 3” humanitarian convoy into Gaza.

Bardaweel added that he is sorry that the nonviolent protest on the Egyptian border witnessed some violent actions and demanded all parties to stop all media campaigns that could lead to further escalation.

Viva Palestina reported on its website that more than 10 of its members were injured, four of them seriously, and seven members arrested by Egyptian police during a protest here Tuesday at 11.40pm local time.

Among those arrested was a Malaysian, Ibrahim Mohd Azmi, a University of Bristol medical student who was a convoy volunteer.

The protest was staged by Viva Palestina convoy members to protest against the decision by the Egyptian government to bar 59 convoy vehicles from leaving here for Gaza.