Israel is justifiably concerned about Egypt opening a border crossing from Gaza to allow pilgrimages to Muslim religious sites.
Israel has protested to Egypt over the opening of a border crossing to allow Muslim pilgrims from Gaza to make their way through Egypt to Saudi Arabia.
The Israelis say they are concerned that militants may leave Gaza and go for training in Iran.
Gaza has been largely sealed off since June, when Hamas took control in Gaza. Some 2,000 Palestinians are said to have left Gaza via Rafah since Monday.
The Rafah crossing is the only exit from Gaza that bypasses Israel.
Training in Iran is one reason, but this is another:
Egyptian police confiscated 500 kg (1,100 lb) of explosives in northern Sinai on Wednesday which were probably destined for Gaza, a security official said.
Police found the TNT in 12 plastic bags hidden in mountains near to Rafah on Egypt’s borders with the Gaza Strip. They said smugglers were likely trying to move the explosives across the nearby border.
Posted in: Palestine, Religion, Terrorism
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