OlehGirl.com
Gaza now connected to Egypt
I’m basing this report on Twitter updates from today and yesterday and a recent Stratfor alert.
The border between Gaza and Egypt has pretty much ceased to exist, at least as far as armed Hamas militants are concerned. Towns in the Sinai close to the Gaza border have been taken over by Muslim Brotherhood protesters, with Hamas militants from Gaza joining their ranks. The border, according to twitter updates and now more ‘official’ confirmation, is pretty much open season.
As of last evening I’ve been getting twitter reports that the Muslim Brotherhood, backed by local Beduins, have pretty much ousted Egyptian forces from villages such as El Arish along the Gaza/Egyptian border. For the last 8 hours, I’ve gotten twitter updates suggesting that Hamas men from Gaza have been freely crossing the border, now virtually open, to provide reinforcements to the Muslim Brotherhood. I’ve not seen any media reports confirming this and so considered it still in the realm of possible rumour, yet seriously worrying, until this report from Stratfor:
“The Egyptian police are no longer patrolling the Rafah border crossing into Gaza. Hamas armed men are entering into Egypt and are closely collaborating with the MB. The MB has fully engaged itself in the demonstrations, and they are unsatisfied with the dismissal of the Cabinet. They are insisting on a new Cabinet that does not include members of the ruling National Democratic Party.
The MB is meanwhile forming people’s committees to protect public property and also to coordinate demonstrators’ activities, including supplying them with food, beverages and first aid.”
| Print article | This entry was posted by Yael on January 29, 2011 at 8:38 pm, and is filed under Israel. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
- ¡¡¡No hay frontera Egipto-Gaza!!! | PATRIA JUDIA
- Alerte – La frontière entre Gaza et l’Egypte a à peu près cessé d’exister, les militants du ‘Hamas ont rejoint les rangs des frères musulmans – Pour © 2011 aschkel.info et © 2011 lessakele | Mazaltop
- La frontière entre Gaza et l’Egypte a cessé d’exister. Les militants du Hamas rejoignent les rangs des Frères Musulmans. | Europe Israel – analyses, informations sur Israel, l'Europe et le Moyen-Orient
(Photo by Dani Machlis)
about 2 years ago
A worrying development. We had just been talking about this a few minutes before I saw this post. The world is watching the “main action” and meanwhile the back door has been flung open so that troublemakers can come and go.
about 2 years ago
Noa –Yeah I almost posted about it a good while ago but so many rumours are flying it is hard to separate from afar what is rumour, what is deliberate misinformation, and what is fact. This seems to be pretty strongly in the fact category now.
about 2 years ago
No one can say that the Muslim Brotherhood is stupid or unorganized! In the same way that Hamas initially got control of Gaza! Of course, they drop that nicey-nicey stuff once they take over.
about 2 years ago
NOA, there is so much chaos, no telling what will happen next… much seems to depend on the military, the ruling elite, and the police. What will they do? Apparently, many are just staying home!
about 2 years ago
So it did affect the blockade on Gaza. Wonder if Israel’s going to invade Egypt.
about 2 years ago
Salem, I like your last name. I am from Louisiana originally and there is a famous musician there (Alan Toussaint).
There has always been security concerns in Egypt about the Egyptian – Gaza border. The main passage for goods into Gaza has always been through Israel’s border crossings which have allowed more traffic in and out than Egypt felt comfortable giving.
My biggest concern right now is for the safety and well-being of the people of Egypt. I hope that a suitable, responsible government can be put in place quickly and calm restored. If Mubarak cared about the people of Egypt, I think he should resign immediately. You know, behind the scenes much is transpiring. I hope that it benefits the Egyptian people in the best possible way.
about 2 years ago
I think he’s named for Toussaint L’Ouverture.
about 2 years ago
Israel will not invade Egypt. This is not 1967 it is 2011.
If anyone will invade Egypt it will probably be an Anglo-American force or US only if the Suez Canal traffic is disrupted.
The most powerful arm of US foreign policy, the US Navy is already on the way to the area and one of the aircraft carriers are scheduled to sail through the canal.
The message is clear – dont mess with the oil routes.
And anyone in their right mind will not want to see Egyot lurch from a current oppressive regime to a lunatic religious one that would support Hamas with Iran and look for trouble with Israel.
Besides which, there is no Soviet Union and China does not back Egypt, so given the great weakness that is the Egyptian economy anfd the strength of Israel’s economy – Israel is now comparable with German in terms of per capita – any military adventure by a tragically Islamic Egypt would be economic suicide and show that the protestors over Mubabrak were a bunch of liars.
The world would turn its back on Egypt and the country would collapse.
about 2 years ago
Things are becoming interesting, if not amusing. Of course, amusing only for cynics who marvel at the stupidity of the world’s leaders.
Everyone should have known that the result of the uprising of the rabble in Egypt will be that the MB is going to be in power. And that means their friends in Gaza will get all the weapons etc. they need across the now friendly border. That, of course, will mean more casualties in Israel.
Yet, a lot of ignorants in the West are cheering the downfall of Mubarak. It is 1979 all over again.
about 2 years ago
Sir John, yes, you are right! All across America there are folks condemning the US along with Mubarak.