77 hurt as Israel fires at Gaza protesters

Hamas leader says Egyptians discussed ceasefire efforts and reconciliation

Israeli occupation soldiers shot and wounded 77 Palestinians as thousands protested near the Gaza border yesterday, the health ministry said. About 30 Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation, the ministry added.

The occupation regime’s escalation came as Egypt shuttled between Israel and Hamas on Thursday, stepping up efforts to forge a ceasefire between the two enemies.

The meetings came a day after a series of Israeli regime air strikes against Gaza. The four Egyptian intelligence officials entered Gaza from Israel on Thursday afternoon, and then returned to Israel after meeting with Esmail Haniyeh, Hamas’ top leader.

Khalil Al Haya, a top Hamas official, said the Egyptians had discussed ceasefire efforts, as well as reconciliation attempts with the rival Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The talks were ongoing.

Gaza’s economy has been ravaged by an Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after the Hamas takeover in 2007. Hamas has been leading weekly protests near the Israeli border for over six months in an attempt to ease the blockade.

Those protests have intensified in recent weeks as Egyptian and UN ceasefire efforts faltered. Last week, some 14,000 Palestinians thronged to the perimeter fence. Seven Palestinians were shot dead by the occupation regime last Friday.

UN urges quick action

UN Mideast envoy Nickolay Mladenov urged all friends of Israel and the Palestinians to join the UN in calling on all sides “to step back from the brink” of war, calling Gaza a “powder keg.”

“We remain on the brink of another potentially devastating conflict ... that needs much more than just words to prevent,” he told the UN Security Council. “We must see very clear actions on all sides that de-escalate the situation. Otherwise, the consequences will be terrible for everyone.”