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Saturday, December 26, 2009 GAZA: Palestinians have held a mass demonstration against Egypt's construction of an underground wall along the border with the Gaza Strip.According to Palestinian security sources, a Palestinian man was killed after a tunnel collapsed over him due to the Egyptian excavation. During the demonstration, Hamas spokesperson Hammad Ar-Ruqab urged Cairo to open the Rafah border crossing and facilitate the entry of food and construction materials needed to rebuild Gaza which is in ruins due to Israel's war which left thousands of homes destroyed last year. "We in the Hamas movement announce our deep shock at the construction of the wall which bypasses every diplomatic rule. Egypt is building the wall between Gaza and Egypt in a sensitive period of time," local agency quoted Ar-Ruqab as saying.

Thursday, December 24, 2009 GAZA: Hamas announced on Wednesday that the German mediator involved in the talks to release kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit had delivered Israel's offer. Media outlets in the Gaza Strip reported Wednesday that a Hamas delegation would head from Gaza to Cairo today, and then to Damascus, where they would meet with members of Hamas' political wing there to discuss their response to what Israel has put on the table. At the center of Israel's demands is an insistence that between 100 and 130 of the Palestinian prisoners who are to be released in exchange for Shalit - individuals convicted of direct responsibility for the deaths of Israelis - will be expelled to the Gaza Strip or abroad and barred from returning to the West Bank. However, Hamas is insisting that all released prisoners be allowed to return to their homes. Hamas is expected to respond favorably to Israel's offer, but will demand that the number of expelled prisoners be redu...

Monday, December 14, 2009 GAZA CITY: The Islamic militant group Hamas is marking the anniversary of its 1987 founding with celebrations in the Gaza Strip. The organization hopes to show it still has support despite four years of rule that have led Gaza into war, poverty and isolation. Gaza is decked out in Islamic green, with Hamas flags fluttering from roofs and lampposts. Hamas' radio and TV stations are exhorting Gazans to attend a mass rally after midday prayers.