Hamas to Work with Egypt to Seal Border with Gaza Strip

A senior leader for the Palestinian militant group Hamas has vowed to work with Cairo to seal off the breached border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

Mahmoud al-Zahar announced the plans Saturday upon returning to Gaza after talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo. Al-Zahar says the process will take place gradually.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have streamed across the Egyptian border since Hamas militants destroyed a barrier wall on January 23, shattering an Israeli blockade.

Egyptian forces laid down metal barriers across several breaches in the Rafah border crossing Friday. But militants used bulldozers to tear down the barriers, and hundreds of people demonstrated to demand the border remain open.

Palestinians are worried they will not be able to buy supplies in Egypt if the border is resealed.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

by VOA News

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