Egyptian security: 12 killed in Bedouin skirmish at Gaza border

[oberliner]

SINAI PENINSULA, Egypt (Ma'an) -- Palestinian sources say 12 people including Bedouins and Egyptian police officers were killed Saturday in clashes in the Sinai Peninsula, in what appeared to be an attempt by tribes in the region to take control of the swath of land south of the Egypt-Gaza border.

Gunshots were heard in the Egyptian city of Rafah as Bedouins attempted to occupy the border with Israel and the Gaza Strip. Rocket-propelled Grenades were fired at Egyptian soldiers, witnesses said, causing the near-total destruction of one home near the border area, and damage to a sector of the Gaza-Egypt border fence.

Gaza government police were said to have fixed the breach immediately, while eyewitnesses said police forces deployed across the border area on the Gaza side, in an apparent attempt to prevent Gaza residents from entering Egypt.

Armed groups attacked Egyptian police in the cities of Rafah and Sheikh Zweid, set fire to one police station and were behind the slaying of one officer identified as 36-year-old Jum’a Hamid after he was abducted along with two others, security sources said.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355252

[LiberalLoner]

1. Wow....MFO North Camp is very very close to that action...must be pretty tense there

now....just wow.

[aquart]

2. I am so confused.

And probably geography challenged. But if the Bedouins were trying to occupy the Israeli border of Gaza, why were the Egyptians in the fight and not the Israelis?

And aren't the Palestinians occupying that land?

[Ozymanithrax]

3. The southern strip of the Gaza border is with Egypt.

For most of recent history, Egypt has maintained a blockade along their portion of the border. They have opened it at times.

[azurnoir]

4. The Palestinians are occupying Gaza? truly an interesting phraseology

it could lead one to believe that they do not really have the right to be there at all, is that your belief?