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Egypt bars Iranian activists from Gaza
Sunday January 02, 2011 07:56:53 PM ,
Reuters
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Ismailia:
Egypt will allow an Asian aid convoy to enter the Gaza Strip
through its Rafah border but has barred Iranian activists from
traveling with the convoy for security reasons, Egyptian sources
said on Friday.
The “Asia 1” convoy’s 120 activists from 18 different Asian
countries will sail on Saturday from the Syrian Al Ladhiqiyah port
en route to Egypt’s Arish harbor in Arish city, 40 km from Egypt’s
Rafah border with Gaza.
Israel has maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza since 2007,
when Hamas took control of the territory.
The convoy will be allowed to take its 300 tons of medical aid,
including four ambulances, for Palestinians in Gaza through the
Rafah border, security sources said.
Security sources said Iranians were denied access for “security
and organizational reasons,” without giving details. It was not
known how many Iranian activists intended to travel on the convoy.
US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks have shown Egypt was
wary of Iran’s spreading influence in the region.
One cable quoted Egypt’s spy chief Omar Suleiman as saying Iran
was giving Hamas $25 million a month in funds, but that Egypt was
preventing financial support entering Gaza. Iran says its support
for Hamas is diplomatic only.
“Asia 1” was scheduled to reach Gaza on December 27, in time for
the second anniversary of Israel’s 22-day war on the Strip in
2008. Some 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis died.
Iran and Egypt severed ties in 1980 after Iran’s Islamic
Revolution and Egypt’s recognition of Israel.
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