GAZA CITY, 22 June 2006 — The Gaza Strip’s main international gateway was closed yesterday after European monitors said an Israeli security alert prevented them from manning the crossing.
The Palestinian group Hamas said it suspected the Rafah terminal with Egypt was closed to send a message to its government to stop carrying cash by hand into Gaza to sidestep a Western aid embargo. The monitors brushed aside the accusation.
Last week, the monitors sent a letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas protesting at Hamas’ use of Rafah to bring in funds, raising fears that the passage could be shut down. Senior Abbas aide Saeb Erekat met the head of the monitors, Pietro Pistolese, yesterday.
European monitors oversee the terminal under a US-brokered deal aimed at boosting the impoverished Gazan economy after Israel withdrew settlers and soldiers from the strip last year.
Rafah did not open as scheduled because the Israeli Army closed the nearby Kerem Shalom passage into southern Gaza over a security alert, monitors said. The passage is used by monitors to gain access to Rafah. “We didn’t order Rafah to shut,” an Israeli Army spokeswoman said.
“They did it on the basis of Kerem Shalom.” The army said it was unclear when Kerem Shalom would reopen, It said monitors could get to Rafah through the northern Erez crossing into Gaza.
Monitors avoid that route because they would need travel the length of Gaza under heavy escort. Hundreds of Palestinians waited on the Gaza side of the crossing for it to reopen.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the closure aimed to prevent the group bringing cash through Rafah to get around a crippling boycott on the three-month-old government. Israel, the United States and the European Union imposed sanctions after Hamas refused to recognize the Jewish state, renounce violence and accept past peace deals. Sworn to destroy Israel, Hamas took office in March.
Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas accused Israel of imposing more restrictions on the Palestinian people. “We have information some Palestinian officials urged European monitors to do this to prevent Hamas officials bringing money through Rafah to resolve our financial crisis,” Abu Zuhri said.
A spokesman for the EU monitors dismissed the suggestion. “The only reason our deployment has been delayed is because of the security alert,” the spokesman said. The threat of US sanctions has stopped local and foreign banks from dealing with the Palestinian government, leaving most of its 165,000 workers unpaid for nearly four months. Hamas has challenged the boycott by bringing money through Rafah stuffed in suitcases.
The biggest known shipment so far totaled $20 million and was brought through Rafah by Foreign Minister Mahmoud Al-Zahar. In addition to Pistolese, Erekat met Marc Otte, the EU’s Middle East envoy.
Abbas’ aides are looking for ways to stop such large sums from being brought in. Erekat said no decisions had been taken.
