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| US presses Egypt on Gaza border | US presses Egypt on Gaza border |
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| The US has urged the Egyptian government to secure its border with Gaza after thousands of people crossed from the Israeli-blockaded territory. | The US has urged the Egyptian government to secure its border with Gaza after thousands of people crossed from the Israeli-blockaded territory. |
| Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she understood it was "difficult" but the border "needs to be protected". | Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she understood it was "difficult" but the border "needs to be protected". |
| Militants destroyed parts of the fence on Wednesday, sparking an exodus. | Militants destroyed parts of the fence on Wednesday, sparking an exodus. |
| Hundreds of Egyptian security personnel have moved into the area but have not yet tried to stop the traffic, BBC correspondent Ian Pannell said. | Hundreds of Egyptian security personnel have moved into the area but have not yet tried to stop the traffic, BBC correspondent Ian Pannell said. |
| Map of the Egypt-Gaza border area | Map of the Egypt-Gaza border area |
| Reporting from the border town of Rafah, our correspondent said reinforcements have gathered on roads leading to Rafah, and police are now stopping and questioning some Palestinians. | Reporting from the border town of Rafah, our correspondent said reinforcements have gathered on roads leading to Rafah, and police are now stopping and questioning some Palestinians. |
| It is an international border, it needs to be protected US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7206881.stm">Israel torn over Gaza role class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/7203223.stm">Viewpoints: Sderot and RafahIn pictures: Border Day Two Israel has recently tightened its blockade on Gaza, which is run by the Islamist Hamas movement and used by militants to fire rockets into the Jewish state. | |
| He said Thursday may have seen even more Palestinians cross the border on top of the 50,000 who crossed on Wednesday. | He said Thursday may have seen even more Palestinians cross the border on top of the 50,000 who crossed on Wednesday. |
| Ms Rice, arriving for talks in Colombia, said she understood Egypt's position, but said: "It is an international border, it needs to be protected and I believe that the Egyptians understand the importance of doing that." | Ms Rice, arriving for talks in Colombia, said she understood Egypt's position, but said: "It is an international border, it needs to be protected and I believe that the Egyptians understand the importance of doing that." |
| EGYPT-GAZA BORDER 12km (7.4 miles) longEgyptian side patrolled by 750 soldiers under 2005 agreement with IsraelBorder crossing terminal south of town of RafahPA control of terminal under EU supervision collapsed after Hamas takeover of Gaza in June 2007 Border closed almost continuously since href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7207744.stm">Gaza diary: Day Three class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3702088.stm">Gaza's rocket threat to Israel'Wartime' on Israeli border The United Nations has calculated that as much as half of the 1.5 million population of the territory has crossed the border, according to the AFP news agency. | |
| Our correspondent says there are so many Palestinians in Rafah that it is almost as if the town has been annexed by Gaza. | Our correspondent says there are so many Palestinians in Rafah that it is almost as if the town has been annexed by Gaza. |
| The main street has become an enormous open-air market, selling all kinds of goods, including fuel, goats and other livestock, and cigarettes. | The main street has become an enormous open-air market, selling all kinds of goods, including fuel, goats and other livestock, and cigarettes. |
| 'Temporary' | 'Temporary' |
| The Israelis are worried weapons may be smuggled into Gaza amid the confusion. | The Israelis are worried weapons may be smuggled into Gaza amid the confusion. |
| GAZA BLOCKADE 17 January: Israel seals border following rise in rocket attacks20 January: Gaza's only power plant shuts down22 January: Israel eases restrictions22 January: Egyptian border guards disperse Palestinian protest against closure23 January: Border wall breached Blockade incites press angerEgypt faces Gaza surge class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5122404.stm">Profile: Gaza Strip But Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki promised the border would "go back as normal". | |
| "The current situation is only an exception and for temporary reasons," he said. | "The current situation is only an exception and for temporary reasons," he said. |
| Correspondents say the big question now is what happens next. | Correspondents say the big question now is what happens next. |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he will not let the Gaza blockade turn into a humanitarian crisis. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he will not let the Gaza blockade turn into a humanitarian crisis. |
| Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Arye Mekel blamed Hamas for the plight of Gazans. | Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Arye Mekel blamed Hamas for the plight of Gazans. |
| "All they have to do is stop firing the rockets towards Sderot and other places in Israel, and immediately there will be no problem with the border crossing," he said. | "All they have to do is stop firing the rockets towards Sderot and other places in Israel, and immediately there will be no problem with the border crossing," he said. |
| Israel has stepped up its security since the border fence was blown up, with citizens warned against travelling to the Sinai in peninsula in Egypt. | Israel has stepped up its security since the border fence was blown up, with citizens warned against travelling to the Sinai in peninsula in Egypt. |
| A spokesman for public security minister Avi Dichter told AP the police had been ordered to be on increased alert, because of "intelligence warnings that terrorists will infiltrate Israel". | A spokesman for public security minister Avi Dichter told AP the police had been ordered to be on increased alert, because of "intelligence warnings that terrorists will infiltrate Israel". |
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