Egypt's turmoil overshadows life in Gaza

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Egypt's turmoil overshadows life in Gaza

By Saud Abu Ramadan (Xinhua) 20:19, August 19, 2013

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GAZA, Aug. 19 -- Gazans are closely following what is happening in neighboring Egypt, as the violence there has cast shadow over the life in Hamas-controlled enclave.

Historically and geographically, the Gaza Strip has been directly linked to Egypt. Since Hamas' takeover of Gaza in 2007 and the subsequent Israeli blockade, the Egyptian Rafah crossing border has been the main gate of the enclave to the outside world.

Mohamed al-Bayook, a 39-year-old resident of the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, is following with deep concern the recent turmoil in Egypt.

"May Allah (God) protect Egypt and its people," said the former employee with the Palestinian National Authority while watching TV news along with his neighbors.

Since the violence broke out in Egypt, during which hundreds of people were killed and injured, the streets of Gaza have been almost empty and the commercial movement in main markets nearly stalled.

"Israel is closing the Gaza Strip, Egypt destroys more than 80 percent of the border tunnels (under Gaza) and Hamas keeps its control on Gaza, therefore, I believe there is no hope that our suffering would end," said al-Bayook.

Over the past six years, Egypt has been sponsoring the Palestinian internal dialogue and brokering ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.

"The recent unrest in Egypt not only affects life in the Gaza Strip, but also ends the national dialogue between Hamas and Fatah, " said Hani Habib, a Gaza-based political analyst.

However, he said if the Egyptian army and government succeed in restoring stability, "the situation in the Gaza Strip might get better."

（Editor：DuMingming、Liang Jun）