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Egypt moves to seal Gaza border Egypt moves to seal Gaza border
(about 2 hours later)
Egyptian security forces have begun intervening to try to stem the flow of Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip through its partly demolished border.Egyptian security forces have begun intervening to try to stem the flow of Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip through its partly demolished border.
They are now stopping Palestinians from entering Egypt, only allowing people returning to Gaza to pass through. Riot police used water cannons against those still attempting to cross the border into Egypt, and announced it would be closed from 1500 (1300 GMT).
Hundreds of thousands have crossed into Gaza to buy supplies since militants blew holes in the border on Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands have surged into Egypt to buy supplies since militants blew holes in the border on Wednesday.
Israel has been demanding Egyptian action, claiming weapons are likely to be smuggled into Gaza amid the chaos. Israel has demanded Egypt take action, as it is worried about arms smuggling.
Map of the Egypt-Gaza border area Map of the Egypt-Gaza border area
Overnight on Thursday, Israeli forces carried out air strikes near the border, hitting two vehicles carrying Hamas militants, killing four of them.Overnight on Thursday, Israeli forces carried out air strikes near the border, hitting two vehicles carrying Hamas militants, killing four of them.
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.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.
It is an international border, it needs to be protected US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Israel torn over Gaza roleViewpoints: Sderot and RafahIn pictures: Border Day TwoIt is an international border, it needs to be protected US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Israel torn over Gaza roleViewpoints: Sderot and RafahIn pictures: Border Day Two
The United Nations has calculated that as much as half of the 1.5 million population of the territory has crossed the border since Wednesday, according to the AFP news agency. The United Nations has calculated that as much as half of the 1.5 million population of the territory has crossed the border since Wednesday.
The BBC's Ian Pannell on the border says there are so many Palestinians in Rafah on the Egyptian side of the border that it is almost as if the town has been annexed by Gaza. The BBC's Ian Pannell on the border says there have been so many Palestinians in Rafah on the Egyptian side of the border in the past three days 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.
'Difficult' situation'Difficult' situation
On Thursday, the US urged the Egyptian government to secure its border with Gaza. On Thursday evening, the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, urged the Egyptian government to secure its border with Gaza.
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 Gaza diary: Day ThreeGaza's rocket threat to Israel'Wartime' on Israeli borderEGYPT-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 Gaza diary: Day ThreeGaza's rocket threat to Israel'Wartime' on Israeli border
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, arriving for talks in Colombia, said she understood Egypt's position was "difficult", but said: "It is an international border, it needs to be protected and I believe that the Egyptians understand the importance of doing that." Arriving for talks in Colombia, Ms Rice said she understood Egypt's position was "difficult", but said: "It is an international border, it needs to be protected and I believe that the Egyptians understand the importance of doing that."
Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki promised the border would "go back as normal". Later, 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.
But the Egyptian government has been under immense pressure to intervene from the Israeli government, which is concerned about possible arms smuggling. By Friday morning, Egyptian security forces began to stop Palestinians from entering Egypt, while at the same time allowing people back into Gaza.
Riot police formed human chains along the frontier in attempt to seal the breach, but thousands of Palestinians still managed to get through.
Gazans have been returning with everything from fuel to camels
Later, hundreds of extra police armed with electric batons were deployed, and water cannons were aimed above the heads of the jostling crowd to keep it back.
Those returning from Egypt said police had been using loudspeakers to announce in several nearby towns that the border would be resealed later in the afternoon.
The BBC's Aleem Maqboool in Jerusalem says it will be a difficult job, however, as more than half of the border fence has been destroyed.
Militant threatMilitant threat
Israel has stepped up its security since the border fence was blown up, with citizens warned against travelling to the Sinai peninsula in Egypt.Israel has stepped up its security since the border fence was blown up, with citizens warned against travelling to the Sinai peninsula in Egypt.
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 surgeProfile: Gaza Strip 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". 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 surgeProfile: Gaza Strip
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he will not let the Gaza blockade turn into a humanitarian crisis. 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".
It is also worried that militant groups based in Gaza will have taken advantage of the freedom of movement to bolster their weapons stores.
The 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.
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