Gaza security forces deployed at border to prevent illegal crossing
Published yesterday (updated) 24/12/2014 22:36
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=749629

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The Ministry of the Interior in the Gaza Strip is
deploying security forces on the border with Israel and intensifying its
presence in the area in order to prevent Palestinians from crossing into
Israel from Gaza without documents.

The statement from the interior ministry comes just hours after a gunfight
erupted on the border with Israeli soldiers, after the Israeli military said
a soldier was wounded by sniper fire from inside Gaza.

Ministry spokesman Iyad al-Buzm, however, did not directly mention the
incident, instead stressing that the deployment was about preventing
Palestinians from crossing into Israel.

"There are a few cases where young people try to sneak into the '48 lands
(i.e Israel), but Palestinian security forces have arrested some this year
and Israeli forces arrested those who successfully entered," al-Buzm said.

"We are looking carefully at the issue in order to stop the Israeli side
from recruiting collaborators," he added.

Al-Buzm said that Gaza security forces had been working on the issue for the
last two months.

According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, 94 Palestinians have crossed into
Israel without documents since the beginning of the Gaza offensive in July,
including 10 during the conflict and 66 since September alone.

Al-Buzm said that part of the problem was the fact that there are border
areas where Palestinian security forces cannot operate, allowing
individuals -- who he said were primarily youths -- to cross over.

"We still have some procedures to carry out in order to completely stop
infiltration. Those who are caught will be punished appropriately," he
added.

Israel also maintains a security "buffer zone" that extends between 500 and
1500 meters into the Strip, effectively extending control over 17 percent of
Gaza's total land area and 35 percent of its agricultural land.

This control, which directly affects the livelihoods of more than 100,000
Gazans, also prevents security forces from operating near the border, as
they are similarly forbidden from entering the area.

Al-Buzm called on the unity government to fully carry out its duties in
Gaza, adding that the security situation in Gaza is stable despite the
difficult circumstances, including a lack of salaries and contact with the
unity government's ministry of the interior.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli military launched an attack on Khuzaa and
al-Qarara east of Khan Younis, killing Taysir al-Smeiri, 33, and injuring
two others.

The limited offensive came after they said an Israeli soldier was seriously
injured after being hit by sniper fire while he was patrolling on the
Israeli side of the border.
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