By Prensa Latina
El Cairo : Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit blamed Israel for the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, and the tense situation weeks ago on Rafah crossing.
The minister rejected Tel Aviv”s collective punishment against Palestinians in reprisal for the rockets launched from that territory, and called clashes between Israeli security forces and Hamas militants a ó laughable cartoon. ó
Since the second Palestinian Intifada began in September 2000, over 5,000 Palestinians have died, and 70,530 houses destroyed by Israeli attacks against the occupied territories, while Israelis killed by rockets launched from Gaza do not exceed a dozen.
On the other hand, Abul Gheit announced the Egyptian government will take drastic measures against those who cross Rafah illegally, and clarified violations will not be tolerated in that zone.
A section of the wall dividing Gaza from Egypt was blew up on January 23 to allow residents get basic products thwarted by the Israeli blockade.