Egypt bans Jordanian activists from entering Gaza via Rafah
29-06-2010 12:00 AM
Ammon News - By Banan Malkawi
AMMONNEWS - Egyptian security authorities on Saturday prevented the Jordanian Professional Association delegation from entering Gaza via the Rafah border crossing.
The Egyptian authorities asked the Jordanian delegation to enter the blockaded Gaza Strip through the Israeli controlled Erez crossing, an option categorically rejected by the Jordanian activists, Head of Public Relations at the Jordanian Professional Associations' Complex Majdi Smadi said in statements to 'Ammon News.'
Smadi added that the delegation consists of 15 members of Jordanian Professional Associations headed by Dr. Ahmad Armouti, Chairman of the Professional Associations Council. He noted that the activists insist on entering Gaza via the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing and “will not retreat from their decision under any circumstances.”
The delegation headed to Egypt Friday evening in an effort to break the three-year Israeli siege on Gaza despite Egypt's warning that it would ban them from entering the blockaded strip via Rafah crossing.
The Professional Associations Council issued a statement Saturday charging that Egypt's banning of the Jordanian delegation from entering via Rafah "represents another episode of the Arab blockade imposed on our Palestinian people in Gaza."
The statement condemned the Egyptian decision and called on all Arabs, and Egyptians in Particular, to exert all efforts to permanently lift the siege off Gaza.
Ammon News Arabic/ Amal Ghabayen