UN: Some 350,000 Gazans stream into Egypt as militants blast border wall

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"Some 350,000 Palestinians poured out of Gaza and into Egypt early Wednesday, the United Nations said, after masked gunmen blew dozens of holes in the wall delineating the border.

The Gazans rushed to purchase food, fuel, and other supplies made scarce by Israel's blockade of the Strip, after militants detonated 17 bombs in the early morning hours, destroying some two-thirds of the metal wall separating the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

Hamas did not take responsibility for knocking the border wall down, but Hamas militants quickly took control of the frontier, as Egyptian border guards took no action.

Israel said in response to the chaos that it expects Egypt to solve the crisis.

The destruction of the border continued later Wednesday morning. Palestinians driving a Caterpillar bulldozer arrived at a point where the frontier is marked by a low concrete wall topped with barbed wire, tearing down the wall and opening a gap to allow easier access for cars."

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Hamas: Border must be controlled exclusively by Palestinians, Egypt

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"Hamas' Damascus-based political leader Khaled Meshal said Wednesday that his organization would be willing to work to resolve the chaotic situation on the Gaza-Egypt border, but only if the border were placed under exclusive Palestinian and Egyptian control.

Khaled Meshal's comments hours after militants blasted apart the metal wall dividing Egypt from Gaza, and tens of thousands of Palestinians poured into the Sinai Peninsula.

Meshal said Hamas was willing to work with Egypt and his rivals in the Palestinian Authority on bringing order to border area.

"We in the Hamas movement and our brothers in the Palestinian government headed by Ismail Haniyeh declare our readiness to reach an understanding with the brothers in Ramallah and the brothers in Egypt on how to manage those crossings," the Meshal said at a Palestinian conference in the Syrian capital.

"The most important standard for lifting the siege on Gaza is that the Rafah crossing be opened and be purely under the Palestinians and Egyptians without any blackmail," he said."

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Israel: Egypt must solve Gaza border problem

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"Israel said Wednesday that it was up to Egypt to 'solve the problem' of the breached border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt."

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"It is the responsibility of Egypt to ensure that the border operates properly, according to signed agreements," an Israeli foreign ministry statement said.

An Egyptian security official said guards did not open fire when the border was holed in order to avoid bloodshed."

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/news/article_1388077.php/Israel_Egypt_must_solve_Gaza_border_problem__Extra_



In pictures: Gaza border break

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7204102.stm