Egyptian security officials conveyed a border guard has been killed in a scuffle with Palestinians along the Gaza Strip border. According to the AP, one official said that the border guard was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper while Gazans hurled stones across the border at the Egyptian security forces. At least 10 Palestinians were hurt when Egyptian forces opened fire on Gazan youth who were pelting them with rocks from the other side of the border.
The Palestinians were angry over the delay of an international aid convoy at the nearby port city of El-Arish, located some 40 km from the border with the Strip.
Hamas leaders who rule the Strip, called for the protest earlier, but soon lost control of the situation. Hamas police fired shots to disperse the crowd and shots were also heard from the Egyptian side the border. Palestinian health official Moawiya Hassanein said the injuries were from gunfire and tear gas.
Earlier, the Egyptian security forces clashed with members of the convoy led by British politician George Galloway trying to deliver relief supplies into the Palestinian enclave. According to Reuters, security forces were throwing stones at about 520 people traveling with the convoy in Al Arish.
The protestors were holding four members of the Arish harbor police while security forces detained seven members of the convoy. Police used water cannon to force the protestors to leave Arish harbor, a security source said. Some 40 members of the convoy had minor wounds while around 15 police officials were hurt, witnesses said.
Egyptian authorities wanted 55 of the trucks to go to the Israeli checkpoint, said Galloway. "We refused this," he told Reuters. "It is completely unconscionable that 25 percent of our convoy should go to Israel and never arrive in Gaza. Because nothing that ever goes to Israel, ever arrives in Gaza."
