The Daily Clarity

Egyptians open fire on Palestinians fleeing Gaza

There are reports emerging that Egyptian border guards have shot at Palestinians desperately attempting to flee the Israeli air bombardment of the Gaza. Reports are still emergent so details of any fatalities or casualties are not yet known. Egypt has already faced Arab censure for its complicity in the Gaza blockade prior to the attack. This development will do nothing to soften the broader Arab world’s view that Egypt is following Israeli dictates so as to gather favor with the US Administration. The following report is from Egypt’s Press Association:

“Egyptian border guards have opened fire on Palestinians who breached the border to escape Israel’s assault on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

An Egyptian security official said there were at least five breaches along the nine-mile border and hundreds of Palestinian residents were pouring in.

At least 300 Egyptian border guards have been rushed to the area to reseal the border, the official added on condition on anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press.

A resident of the Gaza Strip side of the border, Fida Kishta, said that Egyptian border guards opened fire to drive back the Palestinians.

Residents have also commandeered a bulldozer to open new breaches.

Palestinians reported several people were wounded by the gunfire.

Israeli aircraft earlier bombed the border area in an apparent attempt to destroy cross border tunnels used to smuggle weapons and contraband into the Gaza Strip.

Dr Abdel Qader Higazi, a representative of the Egyptian Doctor’s Syndicate in Rafah said Egyptian authorities closed the border crossing after allowing several trucks of medical supplies into Gaza.”