Hamas told by Egypt it will close border Sunday; Hamas says it will cooperate

[bemildred]

Egypt has decided to close its breached border with Gaza on Sunday, and Hamas will not stand in the way, a Hamas leader said Saturday, after holding talks with Egyptian officials.

At the same time, Egypt has agreed to coordinate with Hamas on some border issues and to enable thousands of Palestinians stuck in Egypt to head to third countries for which they have visas or residency permits, Gaza's Hamas strongman, Mahmoud Zahar, said after returning to Gaza from Cairo.

These travelers are currently waiting in the Egyptian border town of El Arish for Egyptian approval to continue their travels. Egyptian officials were not available for comment on the Hamas claims. It was unclear whether the border would be sealed hermetically, as it was before Hamas blew up sections of the border wall on January 23, ending a seven-month blockade by Israel and Egypt. It also wasn't clear to what extent, if at all, Hamas' demand to be given a say in running the Egypt-Gaza border was being considered.

Zahar was greeted Saturday by supporters at the border. Since the breach, hundreds of thousands of Gazans have flooded Egypt's border area and Hamas has thwarted repeated attempts by Egypt to reseal the border.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/950393.html

[Deja Q]

1. But then the Mexicans won't get through!

:cry:
















:sarcasm:

[Vegasaurus]

2. What has changed since yesterday for Hamas

when they were still bulldozing the border?

[bemildred]

3. I expect they cut some sort of deal.

Something along these lines:

"At the same time, Egypt has agreed to coordinate with Hamas on some border issues and to enable thousands of Palestinians stuck in Egypt to head to third countries for which they have visas or residency permits, Gaza's Hamas strongman, Mahmoud Zahar, said after returning to Gaza from Cairo.

These travelers are currently waiting in the Egyptian border town of El Arish for Egyptian approval to continue their travels. Egyptian officials were not available for comment on the Hamas claims. It was unclear whether the border would be sealed hermetically, as it was before Hamas blew up sections of the border wall on January 23, ending a seven-month blockade by Israel and Egypt. It also wasn't clear to what extent, if at all, Hamas' demand to be given a say in running the Egypt-Gaza border was being considered."

[InkAddict]

4. Coincidental internet communication disruption in ME? n/t

Que pasa?

[bemildred]

5. It's hard for me to see how that could have much to do with Hamas or Gaza.

And I cannot say otherwise, one can only watch and see what happens. It is rather odd that three links all get cut over a short period in the Middle Eastern area. But shit happens.

[pelsar]

6. what disruption?

had internet without a problem......

[bemildred]

7. Yeah, I don't see much.

Sometimes it's been slow to sites in certain countries, but only one case where I gave up.

[Violet_Crumble]

8. Israel wasn't one of the affected countries...

At least, that's what I read about it.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/04/2153974.htm?section=world