Palestinian gunmen briefly block access to border
Dozens of Palestinian gunmen firing in the air blocked access to the Gaza-Egypt border and took over four government buildings for several hours today.
They demanded the release of their leader, who was detained in connection with the kidnapping of a British human rights activist and her parents.
The gunmen belong to the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a violent offshoot of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Party.
Late yesterday Palestinian intelligence arrested Alaa al-Hams, an Al Aqsa militant, on suspicion he and his followers had kidnapped human rights activist Kate Burton and her parents for two days last week.
Today, some 40 masked gunmen took over the central election office in Rafah, the local branch of the Palestinian parliament, a local court and another government building. The gunmen left the crossing and the public buildings in Rafah after about three hours
European observers at the crossing said the disturbance outside the crossing was an internal Palestinian matter.
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