Palestinians flood into Egypt after Gaza border wall demolished by bombs

The Associated Press

Palestinians scramble over the fallen wall

Featured Topic | Posted 43 weeks 3 days ago

Palestinians flood into Egypt after Gaza border wall demolished by bombs

It was as if a dam broke. Overnight, bombers destroyed a section of the border wall separating Gaza from Egypt -- sending Palestinians across the border in search of food, fuel, and perhaps other less benign items.

The incident comes after months of increasing isolation of Hamas-ruled Gaza. In recent days, Israel had tightened its economic blockade of the territory in response to rocket attacks. The result: Shortages of electricity, fuel and other essentials.

Is there some way to ratchet down the tensions? And if not, what should be Israel's next move?

Ben likes: What the wall breach really means

David Hazony/Contentions

We should have no doubt that the vast majority of the people who have crossed the border are in search of basic human needs such as food, fuel, and resellable merchandise. But over the last two years, Israel and Egypt have worked together to prevent the passage of what Hamas, Fatah, and the Islamic
Jihad crave most: Weapons. Hundreds of underground tunnels have been exposed, through which small arms, missiles, and rockets have been smuggled for use principally against Israeli civilians. With the collapse of the border, it seems, all that tough digging has been rendered moot.

Joel likes: The lessons of violence

Chris Hedges/Truthdig

The drive to remove Hamas from power will not be accomplished by force. Force and collective punishment create more more outrage, more generations of embittered young men and women who will dedicate their lives to avenging the humiliation, perhaps years later, they endured and witnessed as children. The assault on Gaza, far from shortening the clash between the Israelis and Palestinians, ensures that it will continue for generations.