File photo: Deputy President of Hamas Political Bureau Halil Al-Hayya
A Hamas delegation set out for Cairo from the blockaded Gaza Strip on Wednesday to hold talks with Egyptian officials.
The delegation is being led by Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s deputy leader in Gaza.
According to group spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, delegation members will meet with Egyptian officials to discuss “bilateral relations and recent developments in the Palestinian and Arab arenas”.
Egypt recently invited leaders of the Gaza-based resistance group to Cairo to discuss prospects for inter-Palestinian reconciliation and ongoing tensions along the Gaza-Israel security fence.
At least 137 Gazan protesters have been martyred by Israeli army gunfire since Mar. 30, when Palestinians began holding mass rallies along the security fence.
Protesters demand the “right of return” to their homes in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.
They also demand an end to Israel’s 11-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has brought the coastal territory -- along with its roughly two million inhabitants -- to the brink of humanitarian catastrophe.
Israeli naval forces on Tuesday intercepted a Palestinian humanitarian flotilla that attempted to break the years-long blockade of Gaza.According to Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee, the boat -- which had been carrying eight passengers -- was “stopped without incident”.After being searched, the vessel and passengers will be taken to Israel’s Port of Ashdod, Adraee said.The spokesman went on to defend what he described as Israel’s “naval cordon” on Gaza, calling it “necessary and legal… for maintaining Israel’s security and its maritime borders”.The flotilla set out from the Gaza coast earlier Tuesday in hopes of breaking Israel’s 11-year blockade of the Gaza Strip.It was the second humanitarian flotilla to set out from Gaza since Palestinians first began holding rallies along the Gaza-Israel security fence on Mar. 30.An earlier flotilla, which set out from Gaza on May 29 carrying Palestinian medical patients and university students, was likewise intercepted.Since 2007, the Gaza Strip has groaned under a crippling Israeli blockade that has gutted its economy and deprived its roughly 2 million inhabitants of many basic commodities.Since Mar. 30, more than 130 Palestinians have been martyred by Israeli army gunfire -- and thousands more injured -- while taking part in regular demonstrations along the Gaza-Israel security fence.Demonstrators demand an end to Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian land and its ongoing blockade, which has brought the impoverished Gaza Strip to the verge of humanitarian catastrophe.
Israeli navy intercepts humanitarian flotilla from Gaza
UN peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov on Tuesday voiced concerns over Israel’s decision to impose fresh sanctions on the blockaded Gaza Strip.“I’m concerned by the consequences of Israel’s decision to temporarily suspend imports and exports with the exception of basic humanitarian supplies through the Kerem Shalom crossing,” Mladenov said in a statement.“Humanitarian assistance is no substitute for commerce and trade. I urge the authorities to reverse this decision,” he said.Israel says closing Gaza's main trade terminal in anti-Hamas crackdownIsraeli Defense Minister said Gaza aid contingent upon release of IsraelisOn Monday, Israel imposed fresh sanctions on the Palestinian territory, including restrictions on the movement of goods and a reduction of the area off Gaza’s coast in which Palestinian fishermen are allowed to ply their trade.According to a statement released by the Israeli army, the Kerem Shalom border crossing will be closed in response to “incendiary kite attacks” by Palestinian activists.The military statement did not say how long the crossing -- which had served as Gaza’s only functioning commercial crossing -- would remain closed.The UN envoy called on Palestinian group Hamas and other factions in Gaza to do their part by “maintaining calm, stopping incendiary kites and preventing other provocations”.The UN “is continuing its engagement with Israeli and Palestinian counterparts, as well as regional and international partners, to reduce tensions, support intra-Palestinian reconciliation and resolve all humanitarian challenges,” Mladenov said.In recent weeks, Palestinian activists have been flying incendiary kites and balloons over Israeli territory as part of ongoing popular demonstrations near the Gaza-Israel security fence.Since the demonstrations began on March 30, at least 137 Palestinian protesters have been martyred -- and thousands more injured -- by Israeli army gunfire.Protesters demand the “right of return” to their homes and villages in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.They also demand an end to Israel’s 11-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its roughly two million inhabitants of basic commodities.
UN envoy urges Israel to reverse Gaza sanctions
Fresh Israeli sanctions on the blockaded Gaza Strip, including restrictions on the movement of goods, went into effect on Tuesday.Trucks loaded with humanitarian needs only were allowed on Tuesday into the Palestinian territory through the Kerem Shalom crossing, south of Gaza, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter.On Monday, Israel imposed fresh sanctions on the seaside enclave, including restrictions on the movement of goods and a reduction of the area off Gaza’s coast in which Palestinian fishermen are allowed to ply their trade.Second humanitarian flotilla sets out from GazaAccording to a statement released by the Israeli army, the Kerem Shalom border crossing will be closed in response to “incendiary kite attacks” by Palestinian activists.The military statement did not say how long the crossing -- which had served as Gaza’s only functioning commercial crossing -- would remain closed.Local authorities on the Palestinian side of the crossing said they were told by the Israeli side that only fuel, foodstuffs, health and medical materials, livestock and feeds would be allowed through the terminal.China to offer aid of $15 mln to PalestinePalestinian economists have decried the Israeli sanctions, warning that the move would aggravate Gaza’s already dire humanitarian situation.In recent weeks, Palestinian activists have been flying incendiary kites and balloons over Israeli territory as part of ongoing popular demonstrations near the Gaza-Israel security fence.Since the demonstrations began on March 30, at least 137 Palestinian protesters have been martyred -- and thousands more injured -- by Israeli army gunfire.Protesters demand the “right of return” to their homes and villages in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.They also demand an end to Israel’s 11-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its roughly two million inhabitants of basic commodities.
Fresh Israeli sanctions on Gaza go into force