By Prensa Latina
Cairo : Security measures at the Rafah crossing were stepped up on Thursday, as representatives of the Palestinian resistance and the PNA (National Authority) met with Egyptian leaders.
Egyptian security forces and the Islamic Hamas movement jointly agreed to ban car movement through the border area after nine days of constant traffic of Palestinians looking for supplies to survive the Israeli blockade.
People move in both directions under heavy rain and strict control, while the Brazil checkpoint was crossed by Egyptian trucks loaded with merchandise, according to witnesses.
Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation, led by exiled commander Jaled Mechal, held talks in Cairo with the head of Egyptian Secret Services Omar Suleiman and other officials, a Palestinian official source said.
Discussions with Egyptian officials will be long and all issues relevant to the parties will be examined, including the Rafah control, said Hamas Gaza Strip spokesman Fawzi Barhum.
PNA President Mahmoud Abbas is also in Egypt to define the situation at the border crossing, which was closed in June when the Islamic movement assumed control of the Strip and re-opened two weeks ago in view of the imminent catastrophe in the area.
Abbas wants the crossing to operate under PNA supervision and with the presence of European Union observers, as established by an agreement signed with Israel in 2005.
Hamas considers that control must be in the hands of Palestinians without any EU observer, as they abandoned their position when Tel Aviv closed the border unilaterally.
In opinion of the Islamic Movement and Jihad, the 2005 agreements are outdated and taking them up again would mean concessions to Israel, undermining the prestige of the Palestinian resistance.