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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fatal clash at Gaza-Egypt border | Fatal clash at Gaza-Egypt border |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| An Egyptian soldier has been killed and at least eight Palestinians hurt in clashes at the Egypt-Gaza border. | An Egyptian soldier has been killed and at least eight Palestinians hurt in clashes at the Egypt-Gaza border. |
| Egyptian security officials said the soldier was hit by Palestinian gunfire from across the border, during protests over a delayed aid convoy. | Egyptian security officials said the soldier was hit by Palestinian gunfire from across the border, during protests over a delayed aid convoy. |
| International activists have been trying to take 200 aid trucks into the blockaded Gaza Strip, but Egypt has refused some of the vehicles access. | International activists have been trying to take 200 aid trucks into the blockaded Gaza Strip, but Egypt has refused some of the vehicles access. |
| Dozens of activists were hurt during protests over the convoy on Tuesday. | Dozens of activists were hurt during protests over the convoy on Tuesday. |
| The violence broke out as hundreds of Palestinians began throwing stones across the border at Egyptian security forces, who fired back at the protesters. | The violence broke out as hundreds of Palestinians began throwing stones across the border at Egyptian security forces, who fired back at the protesters. |
| The Islamist militant movement Hamas, which controls Gaza, had called the demonstration over the convoy. | |
| But Hamas police later fired into the air to disperse the crowd, witnesses said. | But Hamas police later fired into the air to disperse the crowd, witnesses said. |
| The Egyptian soldier was apparently killed by gunfire from the Gazan side. | The Egyptian soldier was apparently killed by gunfire from the Gazan side. |
| Egypt and Israel impose a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip, which Israel says is aimed at weakening Hamas. | Egypt and Israel impose a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip, which Israel says is aimed at weakening Hamas. |
| The activists said 60 people were hurt in the clashes | The activists said 60 people were hurt in the clashes |
| The Viva Palestina aid convoy, carrying items ranging from heart monitors to clothing and dental equipment, is aiming to break the blockade. | The Viva Palestina aid convoy, carrying items ranging from heart monitors to clothing and dental equipment, is aiming to break the blockade. |
| A spokeswoman for the group of about 500 international activists said the Egyptians had gone back on an agreement to allow their 200 aid trucks to enter. | A spokeswoman for the group of about 500 international activists said the Egyptians had gone back on an agreement to allow their 200 aid trucks to enter. |
| Alice Howard said Egypt had said that dozens of the trucks would have to enter via an Israeli-controlled checkpoint - which Viva Palestina believed meant the goods would never reach their destination. | Alice Howard said Egypt had said that dozens of the trucks would have to enter via an Israeli-controlled checkpoint - which Viva Palestina believed meant the goods would never reach their destination. |
| She said she understood the reason was because of the nature of some of the goods. | She said she understood the reason was because of the nature of some of the goods. |
| Items other than basic foodstuffs and medicines, such as medical machinery, are subject to a stringent approvals procedure, usually negotiated by established international aid organisations with the Israeli authorities. | Items other than basic foodstuffs and medicines, such as medical machinery, are subject to a stringent approvals procedure, usually negotiated by established international aid organisations with the Israeli authorities. |
| Port protest | |
| Some of the activists staged a sit-in at the port of Al-Arish, where the trucks are currently waiting, which was broken up by some 2,000 Egyptian riot police, Ms Howard said. | Some of the activists staged a sit-in at the port of Al-Arish, where the trucks are currently waiting, which was broken up by some 2,000 Egyptian riot police, Ms Howard said. |
| Many of those injured were "quite severely beaten, with head injuries", she said. A few were taken to hospital, but returned to the convoy on Wednesday morning. | Many of those injured were "quite severely beaten, with head injuries", she said. A few were taken to hospital, but returned to the convoy on Wednesday morning. |
| Several Egyptian security forces were also reported to have been injured. | Several Egyptian security forces were also reported to have been injured. |
| Television footage showed Egyptian riot police hitting the activists with batons. Some of the activists responded by throwing stones. | Television footage showed Egyptian riot police hitting the activists with batons. Some of the activists responded by throwing stones. |
| UK MP George Galloway, with the convoy, said: "It is completely unconscionable that 25% of our convoy should go to Israel and never arrive in Gaza." | UK MP George Galloway, with the convoy, said: "It is completely unconscionable that 25% of our convoy should go to Israel and never arrive in Gaza." |
| The clashes follow an earlier row with the Egyptian authorities over what route the convoy should take to reach Egypt in the first place. | |
| A demonstration has also been held in the Syrian capital, Damascus, against Egypt's treatment of the aid convoy. | |
| A few hundred people took part in the protest organised by Hamas and other factions in Syria. |