Egypt Red Crescent to deliver aid to Gaza

[oberliner]

The Egyptian Red Crescent said on Sunday it would send five trucks carrying food and medical aid to the Gaza Strip. An Egyptian official at the Rafah border crossing with the coastal strip said Egyptian authorities had agreed with Israel to allow the trucks in on Monday.

Mohamed Orabi, the head of the organisation in North Sinai, said the trucks were loaded with 40 tons of flour, 20 tons of rice and some medical supplies.

In the past, Egyptian authorities have prevented scores of activists, mainly from the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, from delivering aid to the Gaza Strip. The Brotherhood has historical and ideological ties with Hamas, but is considering threatening to the Egyptian government.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3642089,00.html

[bemildred]

1. Five whole truckloads. Hosni must really care. nt

[shira]

2. PR move for the willfully ignorant and the retards

Yes, we all know that Egypt cannot send aid through Rafah. They must send it through Israel because that's the only way into Gaza for those who cannot read a map.

So nice of Egypt to let Israel inspect the truckloads for weapons. It's not like there are no weapons going through the hundreds of tunnels from Egypt into Gaza.

What a joke.

[oberliner]

3. I believe this shipment actually did go through Rafah

But they coordinated with Israel before doing so.

Maybe you have other information?

[shira]

4. no, through Israel

http://jta.org/news/article/2008/12/24/1001793/more-than-60-rockets-mortars-strike-israel

It was held up a few days due to rockets/mortars.

Here's more:
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/12/22/62543.html

I'm not sure any mainstream media outlets are reporting on this doozy.

[bemildred]

5. Couple interesting bits:

"An Egyptian official at the Rafah border crossing said Egyptian authorities had agreed with Israel to allow the trucks in on Monday however through the Karam Abu-Salem border so that Israel could ascertain that no weapons were being smuggled into the Strip.

An Egyptian cargo ship carrying aid is due to sail from Alexandria Port in the coastal city to the Gaza port on Tuesday to deliver further aid to Gazans."

[azurnoir]

6. Thanks

Egypt play diplomatic games well it seems they did not open Rafah, the people of Gaza will get food, and no one can complain about arms being smuggled via food shipments seems to about cover it for the moment

[bemildred]

8. You can put a lot of stuff in a ship.

The Gaza port seems to be more and more in play.
Barak instructs troops to open Gaza crossings.
I am wondering if I sense a disturbance in the force.

[azurnoir]

9. Or perhaps restoring "balance" to the force n/t

[bemildred]

10. I think we have to go for "disturbance in the force".

Seems to have been a head fake.

[oberliner]

7. Very interesting - thanks for the info!

Especially the quote from the Hamas spokesperson:

"Egypt controls the Rafah border crossing, so why not use it? In fact Rafah border is a much easier route than the Zionist controlled Karam Abu-Salem," he explained.