Aid barred despite the Egyptian announcement of an open border.
By JPOST.COM STAFFMV Rachel Corrie boarded 311(photo credit: IDF)Despite the announcement a week ago that the Egyptian border with Gaza would be kept permanently open, Egypt refused to allow an Algerian aid convoy into Gaza on Saturday.According to the Palestinian Information Center, the Egyptians refused to allow the convoy to enter and were willing to allow entry only to three Algerian parliamentarians who were accompanying the convoy.RELATED:EuropeanFMs: We'll monitor shipsTurkishadvisor: End blockade and flotilla affair is overHamas is suggesting that cargo aboard future flotillas to the Gaza Strip be inspected by European inspectors at a Greek port, and having those inspectors accompany the ships on their way to ensure Israel that no arms are brought on board on the way to the Strip, Israel Radio reported Saturday.The proposal was being negotiated by Jamal Khudari, an independent Palestinian legislator from the Gaza Strip with close ties to Hamas, known as the head of the 'Popular Committee Against the Siege on Gaza.”According to the report, Khudari had been in touch with Egyptian, Greek and other European officials, and the idea had now been brought to the Hamas government in Gaza.Earlier on Saturday Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said at a joint press conference with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that he would propose the European Union exert strong diplomatic pressure on Israel to end its blockade of the Gaza Strip.
