Gazans pour in Egypt

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-25-2008 13:34

Thousands of Palestinians from the isolated Gaza Strip have streamed past a flattened wall on the border with Egypt.

Palestinians cross into the Egyptian side of the  border town of Rafah from the southern Gaza Strip.  (AFP/Mahmud Hams)

Because of the ongoing Israeli blockade, they're crossing to and fro to buy everyday goods that are in short supply back home.Guo Chun has the story.

Another day goes by, but life in Gaza has not become any easier. Gazans with donkey carts and boxes raided shops in Egypt's border town Rafah on Thursday...They returned to Gaza with food, fuel, sheep, motorcycles and cigarettes.

Merchants say prices in Rafah have leapt five-fold since militants blew up part of the border.

Palestinian officials say Gaza's only power plant would shut down on Sunday, for the second time in a week, if the fuel shipments stopped by Israel didn't resume.

But an Israeli security official says Israel wants Egypt to take over responsibility and act as a base for aid to the area.

Egypt has declined to comment on Israel's proposal saying the situation is "temporary" and the border will eventually return to normal.

Egyptian police are preventing Gazans from moving deeper into the country.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei