Israel opens border for foreigners to leave Gaza

Israel has opened a border crossing to allow an estimated 400 foreign passport holder to leave Gaza.


In the Israeli offensive launched on December 27 in response to rocket attacks by Hamas militants in Gaza, more than 430 Palestinians, including dozens of civilians have been killed, according to Palestinian and UN counts.

Four Israelis have also been killed. Concerns of a looming humanitarian disaster have been expressed as the Israeli bombings have severely damaged Gaza's infrastructure, including power and water supplies in many areas. "There is a critical emergency right now in the Gaza Strip," Maxwell Gaylard, UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinians Territories, was quoted as saying in the media.


Even as Israel has threatened a ground offensive in the Gaza, Tel Aviv has left a window of opportunity open for diplomacy, saying that it would welcome a cease-fire if it is enforced by international monitors. However, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni rejected calls for a 48-hour "humanitarian pause" and told her French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner, that Hamas must not be given the opportunity to gain any sort of legitimacy.


Meanwhile, Hamas's Syria-based chief Khaled Meshaal warned that if Israel commits "the stupidity" of launching a ground offensive then "a black destiny" awaits Tel Aviv. "You will soon find out that Gaza is the wrath of God," Meshaal said in pre-taped remarks.


US President George W. Bush, meanwhile, called for a "meaningful ceasefire" to the conflict. "The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to achieve a meaningful ceasefire that is fully respected," Bush said in his weekly Saturday radio address, the text of which was released yesterday.

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