Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Relief Flows as Egypt Opens Gaza Border

Four-year-old blockade ends

By the Associated Press

Posted May 28, 2011 7:22 AM CDT

(AP) – After a four-year blockade, Egypt today permanently opened the Gaza Strip's main gateway to the outside world, bringing long-awaited relief to the territory's Palestinian population and a significant achievement for the area's ruling Hamas militant group. The reopening of the Rafah border crossing eases an Egyptian blockade that has prevented the vast majority of Gaza's 1.5 million people from being able to travel abroad. The closure, along with an Israeli blockade of its borders with Gaza, has fueled an economic crisis in the densely populated territory. Egypt announced the decision Wednesday.

But today's move also raises Israeli fears that militants will be able to move freely in and out of Gaza. Highlighting those fears, the Israeli army said militants from inside Gaza fired a mortar shell into an open field in southern Israel overnight. There were no injuries, and Israel did not respond. Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade after Hamas seized control of Gaza in June 2007. Since the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in February, Egypt's new leadership has vowed to ease the blockade and improve relations with Hamas. Click here for background on the border.

A Palestinian man loads his baggage before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.
A Palestinian man loads his baggage before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.   (Bernat Armangue)
A Palestinian family wait before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.
A Palestinian family wait before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.   (Bernat Armangue)
A Palestinian child looks through the window of a bus while crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.
A Palestinian child looks through the window of a bus while crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.   (Bernat Armangue)
A Palestinian woman looks through the window of a bus while crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.
A Palestinian woman looks through the window of a bus while crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.   (Bernat Armangue)
Palestinians wait before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.
Palestinians wait before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.   (Bernat Armangue)
Palestinian Yasser Srsaui, right, embraces a family member before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.
Palestinian Yasser Srsaui, right, embraces a family member before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.   (Bernat Armangue)
Palestinians wait inside buses before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.
Palestinians wait inside buses before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.   (Bernat Armangue)
Palestinians wait inside a bus before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.
Palestinians wait inside a bus before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011.   (Bernat Armangue)
Palestinian man wait next their belongings before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011. After four years, Egypt on Saturday permanently opened the Gaza Strip's main gateway to the outside world, bringing long-awaited relief to the territory's Palestinian population and a significant...
Palestinian man wait next their belongings before crossing into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 28, 2011. After four years, Egypt on Saturday permanently opened...   (Bernat Armangue)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The closure did not affect only the travel of passengers or the flowing of goods. Our brains and our thoughts were under blockade. - Khaled Halaweh, a 28-year-old student who was headed to Egypt for a master's degree in engineering at Alexandria University.

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
3%
10%
3%
68%
15%
0%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 112 comments
anchower
May 29, 2011 2:46 AM CDT
To anyone who thinks either that Israel is in any way open to the existence of a sovereign Palestinian state, or that Palestinians' refusal to recognize Israel is the main barrier to peace (as opposed to Israel's refusal to recognize Palestine), this is from Likud's (i.e., Israel's ruling party's) platform, as posted on the Israeli legislature's (i.e., the Knesset's) Web site: "Self-Rule "The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river. The Palestinians can run their lives freely in the framework of self-rule, but not as an independent and sovereign state. Thus, for example, in matters of foreign affairs, security, immigration and ecology, their activity shall be limited in accordance with imperatives of Israel's existence, security and national needs." "Settlements "The Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria [i.e., the West Bank] and Gaza are the realization of Zionist values. Settlement of the land is a clear expression of the unassailable right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and constitutes an important asset in the defense of the vital interests of the State of Israel. The Likud will continue to strengthen and develop these communities and will prevent their uprooting." http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections/knesset15/elikud_m.htm
anchower
May 28, 2011 9:33 PM CDT
Do Palestinians have the right to a perfectly sovereign, contiguous nation of their own, along with reparations if a right to return is denied?  Does Israel have an obligation to negotiate with the Palestinians, without preconditions?  Does Israel have an obligation to negotiate with Syria, without preconditions?  Does Israel have an obligation to negotiate with the Arab League, without preconditions?  If you answer anything but "Yes" to any of the preceding questions, you are morally and intellectually bankrupt.
njgreen
May 28, 2011 9:26 PM CDT
I really wonder whether any of the Israel critics here really care at all about the well-being of the Palestinians.  Mostly, I see the motivation as being more a hatred of Israel, and less a sympathy for Palestinians.  Almost none of these posters care about human rights elsewhere.  Mostly, they look for every excuse to crap on Israel.  Even when the critiques are correct, which is more often than you would think I would believe, they seem tainted by that obsession.  It's pathetic and disgusting to me, but it will never shake my beliefs - in a free, viable Palestinian state, and a free, viable Israel.  Have a lovely weekend - I really don't give a shit if you want to see my nation wiped off the face of the Earth.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
Middle East • Gaza • Hamas • Egypt • blockade • Gaza Egypt border • Rafah • Gaza blockade • Gaza Strip border • Gaza Strip • Egypt protests

More Newser Stories

Gaza Militants OK Israel Cease-Fire

Gazans Blame Hamas for Economic Woes

Hamas Truce 'Not Serious': Israel

Egypt Seals Gaza Border Breach

Egypt Bolsters Relations With Iran, Hamas
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   Geek Sugar   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment