Al Aqsa rejects government’s ‘softening’ on Israel

29/07/07 07:07 CET

Palestinian Territory

world news

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The killings of two Palestinian militants in Gaza have highlighted new difficulties facing President Mahmoud Abbas’s government. The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, which is linked to Abbas’s Fatah faction, says its gunmen were shot by Israeli soldiers will trying to attack Israel. The group said the failed attack was meant to send a signal that it rejected the government’s new moderate approach to Israeli occupation.

Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians who have been stranded in Egypt since Fatah’s rivals Hamas seized control of Gaza will start returning to their homes today.

It comes after negotiations involving the Palestinian government, Israel and Egypt.

It is thought between 5,000 and 7,000 people have been stranded in worsening conditions in northern Egypt since the battle for Gaza erupted in mid-June.

The Rafah border crossing has been closed since.

Under the deal announced yesterday the refugees will be transported through Israel to Gaza in small groups starting today.