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| Gazans flood through Egypt border | Gazans flood through Egypt border |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands of Palestinians have surged into Egypt from the Gaza Strip after masked militants destroyed parts of the border wall. | Tens of thousands of Palestinians have surged into Egypt from the Gaza Strip after masked militants destroyed parts of the border wall. |
| Gazans rushed to buy food, fuel and other supplies that have become scarce because of an Israeli blockade - aimed at stopping rocket attacks from Gaza. | Gazans rushed to buy food, fuel and other supplies that have become scarce because of an Israeli blockade - aimed at stopping rocket attacks from Gaza. |
| Egyptian police have so far taken no action to stop people crossing. | Egyptian police have so far taken no action to stop people crossing. |
| Israel has expressed concern at the events at the border and has urged Egypt to restore security there. | Israel has expressed concern at the events at the border and has urged Egypt to restore security there. |
| Correspondents say the breaching of the border is a security concern for Israel, as Egypt is a main source of weapons for the militant groups in Gaza. | Correspondents say the breaching of the border is a security concern for Israel, as Egypt is a main source of weapons for the militant groups in Gaza. |
| Stocking up | Stocking up |
| Overnight gunmen set off a number of explosions along the wall near the Rafah crossing. | Overnight gunmen set off a number of explosions along the wall near the Rafah crossing. |
| We want to buy rice and sugar, milk and wheat and some cheese Ibrahim Abu TahaGaza resident class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7204238.stm">Eyewitness: Drama at border class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7204102.stm">In pictures: Border breached class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7203040.stm">'Wartime' on Israeli border The BBC's Ian Pannell, who is on the Egyptian side of the border, says thousands of Palestinians have crossed through the breached wall and were stocking up on essentials, petrol and cigarettes. | |
| Among them was Ibrahim Abu Taha, a father of seven, who told the Associated Press news agency: | |
| "We want to buy rice and sugar, milk and wheat and some cheese." | "We want to buy rice and sugar, milk and wheat and some cheese." |
| One Gaza woman told the BBC as she crossed the border: "We're going over there to our family. They're all there. I haven't seen [them] for 10 years." | One Gaza woman told the BBC as she crossed the border: "We're going over there to our family. They're all there. I haven't seen [them] for 10 years." |
| In an interview with AFP news agency, Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said his government was concerned about the chaos but added: "It is the responsibility Egypt to ensure that the border operates properly." | In an interview with AFP news agency, Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said his government was concerned about the chaos but added: "It is the responsibility Egypt to ensure that the border operates properly." |
| GAZA BLOCKADE 17 January: Israel seals border following rise in rocket attacks21 January: UN relief officials warn about food shortages22 January: Israel eases restrictions22 January: Egyptian border guards disperse Palestinian protest against closure23 January: Border wall breached Gaza's rocket threat to Israel In recent months the border has been mostly sealed, in an understanding between Israel and Egypt. | GAZA BLOCKADE 17 January: Israel seals border following rise in rocket attacks21 January: UN relief officials warn about food shortages22 January: Israel eases restrictions22 January: Egyptian border guards disperse Palestinian protest against closure23 January: Border wall breached Gaza's rocket threat to Israel In recent months the border has been mostly sealed, in an understanding between Israel and Egypt. |
| In 2005, militants from Hamas blew up a section of the border wall, following the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. | In 2005, militants from Hamas blew up a section of the border wall, following the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. |
| The group, which has controlled Gaza since last June, had urged Egypt to open its border over the past few days. | The group, which has controlled Gaza since last June, had urged Egypt to open its border over the past few days. |
| The territory has been short of fuel and other essential goods since last week, when Israel imposed the blockade. | The territory has been short of fuel and other essential goods since last week, when Israel imposed the blockade. |
| It was eased slightly on Tuesday to allow some fuel and medicines through. | It was eased slightly on Tuesday to allow some fuel and medicines through. |
| War of words | War of words |
| Wednesday's scenes at the Rafah crossing come a day after Egyptian police used water cannon to break up a protest there by Palestinian women. | Wednesday's scenes at the Rafah crossing come a day after Egyptian police used water cannon to break up a protest there by Palestinian women. |
| Profile: Gaza StripGaza diary: Day One | Profile: Gaza StripGaza diary: Day One |
| Also on Tuesday, Israeli and Palestinian envoys had clashed at the United Nations Security Council in New York during a debate on Israel's blockade. | Also on Tuesday, Israeli and Palestinian envoys had clashed at the United Nations Security Council in New York during a debate on Israel's blockade. |
| The council was considering a call for Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza freely. | The council was considering a call for Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza freely. |
| The council debate had been requested by Arab and Islamic states amid a growing international outcry at what the European Union termed the "collective punishment" of Gaza's 1.5m residents. | The council debate had been requested by Arab and Islamic states amid a growing international outcry at what the European Union termed the "collective punishment" of Gaza's 1.5m residents. |
| Some council members have been pushing for a compromise resolution, condemning the rocket attacks and recognising "Israel's rights to self-defence", but also urging the Israelis to lift the closure. | Some council members have been pushing for a compromise resolution, condemning the rocket attacks and recognising "Israel's rights to self-defence", but also urging the Israelis to lift the closure. |
| However Israeli representative Gilad Cohen denied that Israel was violating international law. | However Israeli representative Gilad Cohen denied that Israel was violating international law. |
| "It is the duty of all states to ensure the right to life and safety of its people, especially from vicious acts of violence and terrorism," he said, adding that Israel would "ensure the humanitarian welfare" of Gaza. | "It is the duty of all states to ensure the right to life and safety of its people, especially from vicious acts of violence and terrorism," he said, adding that Israel would "ensure the humanitarian welfare" of Gaza. |