Haniyeh crosses into Gaza after long delay in Egypt

Clashes between Hamas gunmen, Fatah security officers in Rafah subside, prompting European monitors to open crossing, allow Haniyeh’s passage from Egyptian side into Strip; Security sources: Haniyeh left Arab donations in Egypt

Ali Waked and AP|Last update: 12.14.06 , 22:42

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh returned to the Gaza Strip late Thursday night after a bloody standoff between Hamas militants and rival Fatah forces.

Haniyeh entered Gaza after the fighting subsided, clearing the way for European monitors to open the border crossing.

Sources in the defense establishment reported that Haniyeh arrived in Gaza without the money he had received from various Muslim nations on his recent trip around the Middle East.

According to these sources, the Egyptians are currently holding the money.

Earlier it was reported that Haniyeh's passage from Egypt into Gaza was delayed due to the fact that European monitors, who eventually approved his entry into the Strip, refused to make their way to the Rafah crossing for fear that the thousands of Hamas supporters who had gathered there would attack them.

Haniyeh (center) at Rafah crossing (Photo: Reuters)

During the evening hours Palestinian sources reported that an agreement had been reached between Israel and the PA, wherein Haniyeh would leave the money he had raised during his tour of the Middle East (some USD 30 million) in the Egyptian city of el-Arish and that it would be transferred to the Palestinian Authority within the upcoming days; however, it now it seems that Haniyeh’s return to the Strip is being delayed by the monitors’ refusal.

As word of the drama in Rafah spread throughout the Strip, Hamas leaders called on thousands of the group’s supporters to make their way to the crossing and assist in taking it over. During the gathering, exchanges of fire took place between Hamas gunmen and members of Mahmoud Abbas’ Presidential Guard; additional gun battles erupted between Hamas gunmen and Egyptian security officers, who attempted to prevent the crowd from reaching the border fence.

At least 10 people were injured in the clashes.

Hamas supporters chanted curses and threats against the European monitors, accusing them of cooperating with Israel to prevent Haniyeh’s entrance into Gaza.

Battles raged between Hamas gunmen and Fatah security officers, as well as exchanges of fire between Hamas members and Egyptian security officers, which further delayed the monitors’ arrival at the crossing.

The crisis began in the afternoon hours, when Defense Minister Amir Peretz ordered the closure of the Rafah crossing in Gaza Thursday to prevent Haniyeh from returning to the Strip with dozens of millions of dollars in aid that he had received from neighboring Arab nations and Iran, during his recent trip around the Middle East.

Palestinian sources reported that an agreement had been reached, wherein Haniyeh would leave the money (some USD 30 million) in el-Arish and that it would be transferred to the Palestinian Authority within the upcoming days.

Haniyeh cut short his tour of several Arab countries in light of the heightened tensions between Hamas and Fatah; the Palestinian prime minister was scheduled to hold a press conference at the Rafah crossing and offer details of his trip, particularly with regards to the funds he was able to raise in Iran and Qatar.