Gaza protests force EU monitors to flee

30.12.2005 - 09:58 CET | By Lisbeth Kirk

Angry Palestinian policemen have forced European Union monitors to close the Gaza-Egypt border and flee.

Firing in the air the policemen took over the crossing on Friday morning (30 December) in protest against the killing of a police officer in a family feud in Gaza, according to news agency reports.

The Palestinian policemen demanded the execution of the gunman who killed their colleague. They say no Palestinian official will be allowed to leave Gaza until their demands are met.

According to Israel, the crossing between Gaza and Egypt is characterised by weapons smuggling and uncontrolled passage of Palestinian fighters, since the Israeli army pulled out of Gaza this summer.

An EU mission consisting of around 60 policemen and customs officials started working at the Gaza-Egypt border in November to help bring peace to the area, but the EU monitors have no active enforcement role.

The border is closed as according to the Israeli-Palestinian agreement the crossing cannot operate if the European contingent is not present, Julio De La Guardia, spokesman for the EU monitors was quoted saying by AP.

Friday’s unrest is the latest in a number of armed kidnappings and takeovers of government buildings in the area.

A British woman, Kate Burton and her parents were kidnapped earlier this week by armed gunmen in the Gaza Strip, near the Rafah crossing. The family's fate remains unknown.

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Israeli navy kills Palestinian off Gaza: medics

Sat Dec 3,12:36 AM ET

An Israeli navy vessel opened fire on a Palestinian boat off the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing a 22-year-old man, Palestinian medics said. The medics said the Palestinian killed in the incident had been on a fishing trip. An Israeli military source said the boat had entered prohibited waters, ignored warning shots and orders to stop and then fired on the Israeli vessel which shot back.

Israel's navy has largely blockaded Gaza's coast during much of a five-year-old Palestinian uprising, forcing Palestinian boats to stay close to shore. Israel says it is a security measure to prevent weapons smuggling by sea and attacks on Israelis. Palestinians say it is collective punishment that has rippled Gaza's fishing industry. Most of the restrictions have remained in place despite Israel's Gaza pullout in September.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051203/ts_nm/mideast_violence_dc