Gaza barrier a ‘sovereign right’

EGYPT: A state-owned Cairo daily confirmed on Thursday that Egypt is building an underground barrier with Gaza and said it was a “sovereign right” that would increase pressure on the enclave’s Hamas rulers.

“The barrier... is the same barrier that currently exists but with the addition of underground foundations,” Al-Gomhuria said in a front-page editorial.

“Egypt, which protects its sovereignty, has the right to develop the barrier separating it and Gaza. It has a right to have a wall that is strong and not subject to collapse.”

The editorial is the closest Egypt has so far come to officially confirming it is building the underground barrier to stem smuggling into Gaza through underground tunnels.

Previously security sources had only confirmed witness reports anonymously. Egypt’s independent press has been highly critical of the government’s move to tighten the existing blockade of Gaza’s 1.5 million residents, who rely on the tunnels for everything from cars to cigarettes, as well as weapons.

But Al-Gomhuria was unapologetic.

“Some people have tried to portray Egypt as playing a part in the blockade of Palestinians by tightening the openings used for smuggling weapons... but smuggling weapons through Sinai is a direct attack on the sovereignty of Egypt,” the paper said. CAIRO, Friday, AFP