Egypt Analysis: A Practical Government's Moves on Gaza (Yenidunya)

On Saturday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit criticized the US for failing to advance the Middle East peace process. Gheit said that the conduct of Washington's envoy to the region, George Mitchell, would not bring about a settlement even 10 years from now. Later, he told the Egyptian daily al-Masry al-Youm that the Arab League will turn to the United Nations Security Council to declare an independent Palestinian state if talks between Israel and the Palestinians do not bear fruit by September.

Meanwhile, the Ma'an News Agency reports that more than 20,000 residents have traveled through the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt since Cairo announced its indefinite opening on 1 June. According to the Gaza crossings authority, 10,531 residents left Gaza while 10,172 have returned so far. Only 1,865 of those who left Gaza have permission to reside in Egypt; the rest must go back.

Meanwhile, Cairo is continuing its leading role in indirect negotiations between Hamas and the Israeli government on a prisoner swap in for Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier held by Hamas for four years.

Amidst all these purported moves for resolution, Cairo banned an Arab delegation including 15 members of the Arab countries, headed by Assistant Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Lawyers, Abdel-Azim Al Maghribi, from entering Gaza on Saturday. Hamas responded with a call for the delegation to enter Gaza and to assist their humanitarian mission.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri also told the Palestinian Information Center that the measures taken at the Rafah crossing do not reflect any change in Egyptian intentions to move goods and people from and into Gaza.