Egypt to keep border open to Gaza

An Egyptian security official declared the blockade of Gaza a failure and said his country will keep its border with the Palestinian territory open indefinitely.

Keeping that crossing point open long term would ease the blockade imposed by Israel three years ago to isolate and punish Gaza’s Hamas rulers. It also restores a link to the outside the world for some of Gaza’s 1.5 million Palestinians.

Egypt opened its border with Gaza soon after Israel intercepted a flotilla of activists trying to break the blockade a week ago. Israel has not publicly protested the Egyptian move, but officials declined to comment.

In another moment of tension at sea, Israeli naval forces shot and killed four men wearing wet suits off the Gaza coast June 7. The militant group Al Aksa Martyrs’ Brigades said they were members of its marine unit training for a mission. — ap