Ägypten schließt Grenze zu Gaza

Gestern noch hatten israelische Militärs und Politiker Menschen in Gaza aufgefordert zu fliehen. Über 100.000 Menschen sollen Angaben der UN sich innerhalb des Gaza Streifens in Gebiete begeben haben, die als sicherer vor israelischen Luftangriffen gelten.

Heute erklärte Ägypten, es habe den Grenzübergang Rafah geschlossen, um so eine mögliche Massenflucht zu verhindern:

Egypt has closed its border crossings with the Gaza Strip and Israel in the Sinai Peninsula, including two that serve as gateways for travellers in the towns of Rafah and Taba, Egyptian security officials said on Tuesday.

Officials said authorities have also stepped up patrols along Egypt's borders with Gaza to prevent any infiltrations by militants into Israel.

Troops deployed in the area have been placed on high alert and given permission to use deadly force against suspicious movements by anyone who approaches.

The closures of the crossings come as Israeli warplanes and artillery pummel Gaza in retaliation for Saturday's bloody incursion into southern Israel by militants from Gaza. (...)

Egyptian officials said the Rafah crossing was closed late on Monday night after nearby “explosions” on the Gaza side of the border damaged the facility. They gave no further details.

The closures followed a stern warning by Egypt against what it called attempts to force Palestinians in the Gaza Strip into Sinai in a “mass movement” to escape the shelling and air strikes.