Posted on 03/04/2015 4:58:39 AM PST by SJackson
Egypt's FM hits back at UN middle east envoy in Gaza row
Egyptian foreign ministry condemns statement made by UN middle east envoy Robert Serry over 'failed policies'
Ahram Online , Tuesday 3 Mar 2015 http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/124408/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-FM-hits-back-at-UN-middle-east-envoy-in-Gaz.aspx
Egypt’s foreign ministry denounced on Tuesday a statement made by the United Nations' envoy to the Middle East Robert Serry concerning the ongoing crisis in Gaza; saying that he is “blaming others for his failure to achieve his mission in the Gaza strip.”
The foreign ministry's statement condemned Serry’s inability to negotiate with Israeli officials, as they have been the occupying power in the Gaza Strip and the legal power responsible for allowing the entrance of basic necessities to the Palestinian people.
“Serry has tried to shift his responsibility for the Gaza strip onto Egypt when he pointed to the closure of the Rafah crossing,” the FM statement read.
In a statement released on Monday after his last visit to Gaza, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process urged "all stakeholders, including the GNC, Palestinian factions, Israel, Egypt, the international community and donors, to change their failed policies and adopt a "'Gaza first' strategy."
Serry has also expressed concerns about the Gaza Strip which - according to him - is more isolated than ever considering that the Rafah border crossing is "practically closed.”
Egypt temporarily opens its Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for humanitarian reasons.
However, Cairo has kept the Rafah crossing to the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip closed for extended periods of time since the ouster of the Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in June 2013.
The FM has stressed Egypt's right to take all the necessary measures to protect its borders and citizens as part of its sovereignty.
The relationship between Egypt's authorities and the Islamist Hamas group that controls the strip have soured since the ouster of Morsi.
Last Saturday a Cairo court ruled Hamas a terrorist organisation, a month after the group's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, was also designated a terror group by the same court.
Serry, whose seven-year mandate is set to expire shortly, also expressed his understanding of the needs of the Palestinian people.
“I fully understand the frustration of people in Gaza,” the special coordinator declared. “Many of those who now have access to building materials lack the money to buy them or to carry out the works,” the statement read.
According to a recent UN assessment, over 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in Gaza during last summer’s 51-day conflict between Israel and local militants, the most prominent being the de facto rulers of the strip, Hamas. The destruction affected more than 600,000 people and many still lack access to the municipal water network.
In addition, the violence killed more than 2,100 Palestinians and more than 70 Israelis.
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Hamas leader: Hamas will react to Egyptian aggression as it reacts to Israel
Bardawil: Hamas will resist any aggressor as it resists Israel
Hamas newspaper 1 March 2015 http://english.alresalah.ps/en/post.php?id=4546
GAZA CITY (Alresalah.ps) -- Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) will not allow the Egyptian regime to touch the Palestinian people badly, senior leader of Hamas Salah Bardawil said, stressing that the movement will react to any aggression in the same way it reacts to Israel.
Hamas will not allow the Egyptian regime to assault the Gaza Strip and it will resist against it like it resists against Israel, said Bardawil, in response to Egypt's decision to consider the movement as a "terrorist organization".
Hamas will not be subject to the mercy of the Egyptian judges or politicians, said he. The Egyptian regime must not cross the lines, added he.
"Gaza is not like Libya, and those threatening us will lose their people and nation," said Bardawil.
He confirmed that the Egyptian regime is no longer an honest mediator in terms of the internal Palestinian reconciliation.
Bardawil called the Arab and Islamic nations to rise against this decision.
Alresalah.ps
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Buy them??? They were given free as an international gift...Billions of dollars worth...Lotta scammin' going on...
Building materials, perhaps for tunnel construction and missile launch pads?
Hamas will not allow the Egyptian regime to touch the Palestinian people badly. Only Hamas will get to touch them badly and it is doing so very well at it.
I would hate to shatter the image of the altruistic UN worker, but I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if the regular people still have to buy the donated supplies from well-connected “middle-men” in charge of distributing foreign aid.
Why these Un liberals feel no shame in helping the work of rapists?
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