Egypt cop killed in Gaza scuffle over blocked aid
Egyptian border guards open fire on Palestinians angry over delay of convoy led by British MP Galloway.
By The Associated Press Tags: Gaza aid Israel newsAn Egyptian border guard was killed and at least a dozen Palestinians wounded in a shooting scuffle along the Gaza Strip border.
One official said Wednesday that the border guard was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper while Gazan youths hurled stones across the border at the Egyptian security forces.
Egyptian forces opened fire on Palestinians who were pelting them with rocks from the other side of the border over frustration that an aid convoy had been delayed.
Gaza's Hamas rulers called for the protest earlier over the delay of an international aid convoy at the nearby Egyptian port city of El-Arish, but soon lost control of the situation as hundreds of youths began hurling rocks across the border at the guards.
Hamas police fired shots to disperse the crowd and shots were also heard from the Egyptian side the border. Palestinian health official Moawiya Hassanein said the injuries were from gunfire and tear gas.
The incident follows a late night clash between international pro-Gaza activists and Egyptian security clashed at the nearby Mediterranean port of El-Arish when Egypt refused to allow part of the convoy to enter its territory and move on to Gaza.
More than 50 activists and over a dozen members of the security forces injured. Activists briefly seized some policemen as well.
The clashes add to the embarrassment of Egypt, which has come under fire from Arab and Muslim groups for cooperating with Israel in its 28-month blockade of the impoverished territory. The blockade was imposed after Hamas violently seized control of the territory from the forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
More than 500 international activists accompanied the convoy organized by the British-based group Viva Palestina, bringing tons of humanitarian supplies, as well as vehicles, to Gaza. The group includes British, American, Jordanian and Turkish activists and lawmakers.
The scuffles at the port broke out late Tuesday at al-Arish port building when authorities told the organizers that out of the nearly 200 vehicles, some 59 can't enter Gaza through Egypt, but must go through Israeli terminals.
A security official said the vehicles in question are carrying pickup trucks, sedans, generators and other equipment, which are not allowed to pass through the Egyptian crossing at Rafah and had to go via Israel. Only medical aid and passengers are allowed through, the official said.
British MP George Galloway told Sky News television that the activists were negotiating with authorities and refusing to leave behind their vehicles.
"We refused this because it's a breach of the agreement which we reached," he said. "It is completely unconscionable."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said the rules were clear from the start, and accused the activists of coordinating with Hamas to create problems. He said the private automobiles are not considered humanitarian goods, and must enter from Israel.
"We didn't mislead anyone. They have their interests ... and they want to make up problems and clash with Egypt," he told The Associated Press.
"We are activists. We condemn the Israeli siege to start with. We will only enter through an Egyptian-Palestinian crossing," said Wael al-Sakka, a Jordanian activist.
Alice Howard, a spokeswoman for the group, said organizers were negotiating with an Egyptian security official, who said he would come back with answers.
But instead, 2,000 riot police returned, spraying the activists with water cannons, and hurling rocks.
Television reports showed images of both riot police and activists hurling stones at each other and said clashes began when angry protesters attempted to leave the port area and were driven back by riot police.
Howard, speaking from London, said more than 50 activists were injured in the scuffle, including to the head and neck. The group's Web site showed images of injured activists.
An Egyptian security official said the activists used two trucks to block the port gates, burned tires, and briefly detained a police officer and four of his men. They were later released, some with broken ribs.
The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Al-Sakka, the Jordanian activist, said the police charged a peaceful sit-in at the gates of the port. He said the group was not allowed to get out of the port building, denying government claims they have took control of the premise.
The Egyptians were too high-strung. The police is the reason for the tension, al-Sakka said.
He said six activists were detained, including Americans and British citizens.
The security official said five were detained, but didn't identify them. U.S. embassy officials did not immediately have information on the arrests.
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Palestinians, foreigners protest construction of a wall between Gaza and Egypt near site where Egyptian was killed Wednesday. |
| Photo by: (AP) |
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Egyptian police fired guns at pals and rocks at Galloway and Co. Too bad they didn;t do the opposite
Galloway was at the head of a convoy of 150 trucks delivering high grade North Korean explosives....er, 'aid!' - to oppressed Palestinians in Gaza. Suddenly an Egyptian Security Agency sergeant pulled him up just outside the port city of El Arish near the Gaza border. "Hello, Mr Galloway. Do you recognise these?" the officer asked, pointing to a picture on the front page of the Daily Shiite. 'Dozen explosive trucks missing in Yemen' was the banner headline alongside photos of the missing ordnance lorries, looking suspiciously like the Galloway Relief convoy. There followed a scuffle in which the UK MP and his 520 fellow travelling truckers became involved in an ugly frascas with security farces. Eight stitches and a $500 fine later the convoy's cargo of contraband was confiscated and recyled to its Mossad supply depot in El Alamein.
Egypts borders, national security and soveregnity is non-negotiable. Countries like EGYPT have the right to establish on their borders-above and underneath the ground-artificial lines whether watchtowers, columns, walls or any other engineering constructions underneath the ground, to maintain their national security and soveregnity. Egypt authorities are blacklisting all members of the convoy, including British MP George Galloway, meaning they will not be allowed to enter Egypt again. There will be no more Viva Palestina convoys allowed on Egyptian soil. Israel, make peace with Palestine.
do they have ayers on tape saying those anti semitic remarks? this should be front and center in terms of confronting obama and who his friends are and just where he himself stands...obama is a wolf in sheeps clothing..the israelis rightly have figured this man out...jesse jackson alluded to what obama was after...khalidi, said, power, robinson, baker, ayers, wright...when are people really going to stop and QUESTION just who this man really is? the shine has come off obama, he is NOT who people WANTED him to be...he is an alysnky'ite...they need to get rid of him in 2012..this man will bring war...wait and watch.
Opponents of the Vietnam War were often saddled with leaders who were either Marxists like Ayers or buffoons like Abbie Hoffmann. In theory, older activists are preferred (such as in Gaza) but so far they seem afflicted with senility like Jimmy Carter or outdated revolutionary antics like Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn. It doesn't appear that any activist will cut through the historic lies, superstition, animosities, and grievances to effect a real solution to Gaza problems. So let them come and enjoy their 15 minutes of fame. Then all of you can get back to your troubles.
I was born in Egypt as Muslim however decads ago, I came to realiz that I don't recogniz myself as such and especially since 9/11. Hamas are TERRORISTS and there is nothing to be negotiated with them except where we can bury them. They are the illigitimat child of a menage a trois between Muslim Brothers, Iran and Hizallah, they should bombed so they can get thier 72 virgins and leave us alone.
Nothing more than a band of hoodlums causing violence in order to gain attention. The West, in particular, the British police can learn how to crack down on middle eastern troublemakers from their Egyptian peers. Nice going Egypt!
What Isreal doing cannot be justified and the Isreali government should immediately stop the siege and provide bare necessities of life to those palestinians, point black.
For someone who only regurgitates the same clichéd nonsense about 'leftists' and 'Marxists',[since he read one book about communism in his youth] morning noon and night but laughs off the notion that there might be fascists amongst the salivating right wingers who populate the Israeli Cabinet [fascists... Lieberman? how ridiculous! who ever heard!] "Thus a democratic Israel with its many civil rights and freedoms" Thus the ignoramus should have a read of the report commissioned by the enlightened moderate Liberal leader Ariel Sharon: named 'Sasson' and then digest the 'Or' commissions findings; "Government handling of the Arab sector has been primarily neglectful and discriminatory." Then take in Ehud Olmerts [left winger former crooked PM known for his Trotskyite tendencies]sayings a year ago; "deliberate and insufferable" discrimination against Arabs at the hands of the Israeli establishment, during an appearance before a Knesset panel in Jerusalem" before he lauds Israeli standards by comparing them to the leaders of a long impoverished open prison held under lock down and periodically blitzkrieged by the worlds 4th strongest military power. The sayings of Ehud Trotsky Olmert [for reference]: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1036798.html
I read that our famous Israel hater (and American hater) friend of Pres Obama was there too! Of course he is a professor in Chicago! The US is full of Left Wing Loonie professors! He and his fellow bomber wife were there to protest the racist jews (Their words)! Remember this guy and his wife bombed our country to protest and Pres Obama started his first Ill Senate race in Ayers living room! Birds of a feather flock together for sure!
in Galloway's presence.Is he sure English voters gave him mandate for this kind of murderous activities?
The blood of the Policemen murdered is on Galloway's hands. He should face the victim's family at the trial before he spends his life in an Egyptian prison.
Israel relies on the outside World for 99% of its oil.
Why is it that the Gazans only know how to riot ...rather than attempting to persuade the Egyptian border guards to let the convoy in ? Where for goodness sake is just one Palestinian to take some peaceful control of his people ?
Great and funny as usual!
Gaza relies on Israel for its water, gas, and electricity as well as essential supplies of food and medicine. Maybe where you live people might believe your propaganda but some of us actually know something about Israel and Gaza.
it never struck mr galloway that there is a simple commercial method of delivering the vehicles and goods to gaza ? histrionics won and the show is a one night stand !
It's axiomatic. Galloway has already stated that,of course, Egypt is now a puppet of the Jews.
Mark of lewiston, You said Gaza survives on smuggled food and medicine, not on what Israel allows in. Ok then, what you are saying is that the food and medicine is being smuggled through the "tunnels" burrowed into Egyptian territory while the convoys of trucks going through the Israeli Border posts are loaded with Quassim rockets!! O dear. the media will have to be rapped over the knuckles for this misinformation
M P Galloway and Baroness Tonge manage to gain considerable publicity through their support for Pal terrorists. Neither has any role in Govt.
the hamas leaders are the most violent people on the planet.... palestinians should undust the books of gene sharp of www.aeinstein.org non violence is the path to peace. the theatrical galloway is only supporting the enemies of palestine - the muslim extremists of hamas
arn't they both roman catholics? not moslems that is! kovic is croatian origin to boot, though of course nothing ustase about it is there? so it might be a sort of cultural thing here, that they both, through their upbringing, share?
The Left has always been mutating ever since Karl Marx put down his pen and finally, to his wife's delight, took a bath. At one time it was intent on a world revolution based on the solidarity of the working class. Eventually it mutated into a handy tool for Marxist elites to totally control a country. This eventually led to the conquering of territory in the name of "Freedom" and enlightened occupations. Since it hit the groovy left it has mutated into calling someone "facist" or wearing a "Cze" t-shirt and screaming against the "machine". Most of it shallow, hollow and filled with marshmellow machinations. Galloway is the latest mutation a Leftist who supports Theocratic, Misogonist and Homophobic regimes. Go find a worker's union in Gaza. The new mutated Left hates Israel and loves Islam. Thus a democratic Israel with its many civil rights and freedoms is condemned while Hamas is raised to a position of hero and martyr status.
The Egyptian leaders are frightened of democracy, as are the spineless American Administration - that is when it comes to Arabs. Look at the rotten regimes America supports in The Middle East, including Israel that is.
"the protestors were HOLDING four members of the arish harbor police". - wonder for what reason? and did the protestors allow the members of the police to speak to their lawyers? or were the members of the police just hold without any possibility to speak for themselves? in additional: "to force the protestors to leave arish harbor, which they had OCCUPIED". the protestors - an OCCUPATION POWER. wow! wonder whether these protestors now start protesting against themselves for their behaviour?....
Observer: Gorgeous George doesn't have fellow MPs.
Sending an aid convoy into Gaza isn't such a bad thing to do. The siege of Gaza is inhumane, unacceptable and foolish. Galloway is right to point that out. All the people here equating Gaza to evil should start thinking whether it's right to isolate 1.5 million people for political reasons.
Happy to see collaboration between Egypt and Israel,arrogance do not pay back Egyptians are straight with their own regulation as British MP mr Galloway should respect the Egyptian entity.What happen if someone want protest against the British invasion in Ireland and this protest is forbidden. Simple they use the force to prevent it and they are not very sweet,before complaint against other look in your own garden and learn the lesson.
The talkbackers seem to be having fun at Galloway's expense. Enjoy. But don't bet too heavily against him. He got in several times with aid in the past. And not one talkbacker so far has disputed that aid sent through Israel will never make it to the people inside Gaza. Gaza survives on smuggled food and medicine, not on what Israel allows in.
Then state his case. I am sure that the High Court will be sympathetic. So will FM Lieberman, he may just give him a medal. Please, sir. Come to Israel. Its better than an Egyptian cell. At least you will have regular visits, health care a cell phone and many friends from Hamas. Some say, he never has washed his hand, since shaking the hand of the late Saddam Hussein who was a true friend of our erstwhile blockade runner and headline seeker aka gorgeous George. Good day.
Galloway, an elected British politician goes into another country, disrespects their government's decision and plays the roll of, "spoiled brat throws a tantrum," when things don't go his way. Unnecessary physical harm has been caused because of his pomposity. Of course, the anti-Israeli "peace-lovers" will applaud this total disrespect to Egypt and this pitiful politician's audacity. He's fortunate he hasn't been arrested for public disturbances and obstruction of law enforcement. Egomaniacs, like Galloway, make themselves persona non grata in no time.
I hope you print this: Gorgeous George is always at the head of demonstrations until things get tough, then he is never seen. Whenever he makes his statement of his support for those who want the death of Israel and its people, he only does so after the gunfire has stopped.
Maybe Galloway will tell his fellow MPs that it is not only Israel that is blockading Gaza & that Hamas is solely responsible for the blockade & the misery the Gazans have to endure.
Mr. Galloway must be so disappointed that he's been beaten up by Egyptian security forces. If only he had been beaten by the Israelis! - Then he would probably be on his way to the UN now instead of just sitting in the Sinai with nowhere to go. If Hamas & Gaza are so great, doesn't he even wonder why they are so despised by the Egyptians?
this convoy has nothing to do with humanitarian aid. it is all about instigating and supporting more terror attacs and thus make it more difficult for a future peace.