Hundreds of Palestinians and Hamas
supporters demonstrated Sunday near the Rafah border crossing, between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
The protestors, including Acting Palestinian Parliament Chairman Ahmad Bahar, called on Cairo to open the terminal. Some 500 Egyptian policemen were sent to the border for fear that it would be breached.
Not Just Guns
Gazans smuggle lions, monkeys into zoo via secret tunnels / Associated Press
Stocked almost entirely with smuggled animals, 'Heaven of Birds and Animals Zoo' is sign of Strip's ever-expanding tunnel industry
According to the demonstrators, a number of Palestinians have died in recent days after being unable to cross into Egypt to receive medical treatment.
Egyptian sources said that Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, organized the rally. They added that additional security forces were nearby and would be dispatched to the area if needed.
Last month, hundreds of Palestinians clashed with Egyptian troops while attempting to storm the fence and cross into Sinai. In January, hundreds of Gazans crossed into Egypt
after Hamas gunmen managed to break through the frontier.
The Palestinians demand that Egypt reopen the crossing in light of the Israeli restrictions on the transfer of goods into the Strip.
Last week, a senior Egyptian security official said police had discovered
20 underground tunnels and seized thousands of gallons of fuel being smuggled under the Egypt-Gaza border.
He says four smugglers were arrested early Thursday after a heavy exchange of gunfire with Egyptian forces. Three of the suspects and one policeman were injured.
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