Egypt opens Gaza border following IDF raid on aid flotilla

What a joke to see the photo's of Pakistani protesters in Karachi - they are being murdered and blown to pieces daily by terrorists with same values as Hamas - why don't they open their eyes ?

Amazing how terrorist are rewarded for terrorism. The pro-Hamas flotilla is now rewarded and Hamas terrorist will receive fresh supplies, more guns, more bombs, and mass murdering Hamas fugitives can move around freely. Thanks Egypt!

Keep counting. It'll be a bountiful harvest.

about time Mr Mubarak u should a done this long time ago thank you any way Mr mubarak

Can't believe Mubarak the weak kneed came up with this on his own. Strike another big one up for Turkey.

I think Western newspapers should report this more, or Israel should promote this more. It emphasises the political implications of the continued blockade of Gaza. It sometimes annoys me that everyone proclaims 'end the Israeli siege on Gaza', when Egypt also does the same. I do however think that the continued blockade of Gaza instead of seeking more humanitarian options, is causing Israel to loose international recognition. although her Arab neighbours could and should do better, I think Israel is expected and should do more. Of course, if Hamas continues to fire rockets and openly oppose Israel this makes it difficult, but I do believe that Israel can find a way of addressing the hearts and minds of the Palestinian people to make a change, and prove Hamas redundant.

Where is the logic in not letting concrete and steel enter the Gaza strip, can they make bombs out of these materials or is it just capital punishment?

Its about time too, considering the poor conditions those people are living in

So they should. After all Gaza is part of Egypt which is why the Israelis left. Had the Flotilla gone there Israel wouldn't have stopped it.

Aid convoys, to which Egypt has in the past allowed only limited access, would be allowed to use the crossing, subject to following Cairo's limitation that only food and medical supplies be transported. "Hard materials" - apparently including concrete and steel which Gazans want to repair damage from last year's Israeli offensive - would have to go via Israel, the Egyptian source said. This is basically the situation that existed until now, so except of the nice words there is nothing new in the egyptian position. They love Hamas even less then we do, and rightly so.

Your stupid action achieved what Hamas could never on its own: Rafah crossing is open.

You write "a blow to efforts by Israel and its Western allies to cripple the Islamists". What have you been smoking? Virtually every other country in the world has called on Israel to lift the blockade. Which Western allies are those? Micronesia?

The Israeli crime on the high seas magnified Egypt's role in the Gaza siege. Mubarak is an integral part of the siege. Opening Rafah border is in reality a pressure release valve that is meant to placate the anger among the Egyptian public. If he was truly concerned about the human suffering of his Gazan neighbors (at one time Egyptian residents) he would not have built a 2 inch steal barrier on his border with Gaza. Rafah doors will close when the media finds another headline.

Too bad Mubarak couldn't find it in his heart to open Egypt's Gaza border during Cast Lead. Or for years before. Maybe this will remind the world that Egypt also has a Gaza border - which makes a Gaza siege by Israel impossible. Israel does not surround Gaza.

Now the Egyptians will have responsibility on Gaza and what they need they can ask from their Arab neighbors who aren't shelled, yet, with rockets. Nature has won!

Ynet reports it as 'temporary'.

Hamas was democraticaly elected!!!

I am appalled at the international community's hypocrisy. Would Russia let aid in to Chechnya without checking the cargo? Just because someone says they are bringing in humanitarian aid, how do we know that they are not bringing in arms among the medical supplies? These people think they can flout the law, and Israel's security, and create an international incident. in the process. In order for Israel to have any kind of lengthy peace there will have to be a major showdown with the Islamists, I'm sorry to say.

The British have long memories and we will not forget that you kidnapped British subjects in International Waters and illegally held them in Israel.

A good outcome is possible. If Israel understands that the Gaza blckade is not fair and that the Palestinians deserve a free State.

Many blame Israel alone for the Gaza siege, while Egypt has kept Gazans locked out for years. Israel-haters are apparently too blind or hateful to notice that Egypt also has a Gaza border. Egyptians troops fired at and and forced back thousands of Gazans who broke through that border during Cast Lead. Israel opened its own borders to hundreds of thousands of Jews kicked from Arab states. What an insane double standard.

A permanent opening of the crossing, ... would be a major boost for Hamas and a blow to efforts by Israel and its Western allies ..... Which Western allies?

Mubarak is just trying to get some browny points with his people while this issue is still hot. In a wek, the border will close again. The Egyptian govt despises Hamas, together with the Muslim Brotherhood. The relationship between Israel and Egyptian Govt ( not people) is fundamentally strong, as they share multiple interests right now, including suppressing Hamas. The Turkish -Israeli relationship was eroding ever since the islamists came to power. They were praying for an event like this one to give them an excuse to break off ties. They'll feel the pain in the pocketbook though- tourism from israel will plummet and the military hardware that israel provides will have to come from eleswhere Israel can afford to lose Turkey - Israel's GDP is strong and its people are innovative. GDP per capita is 4X that of Turkey, Literacy in turkey is dismal compared to Israel.,corruption is endemic according to transparency international and much worse than Israel ( just imagine how bad that is!) In short, Turkey isnt the success story that Israel is. Israel is much better looking towards India as a long term strategic partner and military ally.

Egypt is a disgrace. Disagree with Israel though I may, and I do, frequently, at least it has the courage of its convictions (misguided though they may be). Egypt on the other hand is hiding behind Israel which IMHO is worse... Israel, not all Muslims are against you having a homeland, sort yourselves out and stop treating people like dogs. You are not a master race. You can see, as I can, the tide is turning against you, sort it before its too late!

I would love to know, was the decision after Ardogan's speech or before? My expectation is that Egypt opened the crossings after Ardogans speech. Ardogan's speech implicitly made Egypt like a little cockroach.

Until what? How has Egypt's piece of this puzzle gone unexamined?

Dear Sabras, don't fool yourselves - you can do, whatever you want - public opinion is against you. The reasons: 1) Nazis - Their racism is not dead. 2) Communists - The left wing has always condemned the idea of a Jewish state. Red Antisemitism is a fact. The media in Europe is dominated by Communist sympathisers. Believe me, I am a German journalist myself. 3) Opportunists - The current Zeitgeist in Europe is this: "Give up Israel, so that we can finally leave in peace". Chamberlain surrenderd Tchechia, Obama and Europe will sacrify Israel. What these appeasers don't understand: If Israel should fall, Western Europe will be the next target of radical Islam. Do what you have to do. Defend yourself. Eliminate Islamic fascists. You have supporters even in Germany. But we just simply cannot get through the leftwing media. Alles Gute!

Peace comes quicker if IDF controles Rafa - Hamas must go before any peace

Israel is going down up turkey Israel is losing to turkey

Egypt has tried very hard to comply in every way with the peace treaty. Israel's treatment of the Gazans has made that policy a huge burden for Egypt. Now, for a while, Egypt has no choice but act in it's interest instead of as a thug for Israel. When the smoke settles, they will close the border.

Israel is wrong and must apologies. Otherwise, i think everything will be worse...

Instead of dumping its former citizens on Israel its about time Egypt accepts responsability for the residents of land it once occupied and refused to take back.

Egypt has apparently taken advantage of the situation. There is an election coming uo. Which explains everything

NEEDS A REGIME CHANGE. Egypt is not immune to the international pressure.

in your face!!!

I was waiting for this step. Good to know that Israel does not control Gaza totally! Now the Arab nations should secure that Gaza people receive all the support they need and Egypt should ensure that no weapons and other military goods enter Gaza, but only civilian support.

At least is will become clear to the world that it wasn't only Israel blockading Gaza. This is going to backfire big time for Egypt. How Arabesque.

Egypt opens Rafah crossing amid a storm of international criticism of Israel's blockade of the enclave, to let Palestinians cross until further notice.

...tried to prevent humanitarian aid to be brought to Gaza, and now the border to Egypt is open. Isreals raid is a desaster from all points of view. Blame no one but yourself.

time for a flotilla out of gaza

Who'd have known that Gaza has a border crossing with Egypt that Egypt keeps closed?

Where are the smart and clever Israeli leaders? Netanyahu is a loser!

back·fire –verb (used without object) 1. (of an internal-combustion engine) to have a loud, premature explosion in the intake manifold. 2. to bring a result opposite to that which was planned or expected: The plot backfired.

THANK YOU EGYPT

So you needed 20 deads to open that crossing. You better leave your post, your people had enough of your s... SHAME ON YOU

I hope Gaza will be free with human ships ... to be continoue ...