If the Israeli government does not end an economic blockade against the Gaza Strip, Hamas said they will storm the Egyptian border this week. A spokesman for the Islamic party Osama Al Muzini warned that there could be a ” public explosion” if the blockade remained in place. Al Muzini said Gazans were becoming angrier and angrier over the continued economic problems facing Gaza, adding that the outburst “will go in all directions” and that the Rafah border with Egypt “will be one of these directions”. “The results of the explosion will be hard because we, in Gaza, have no more thi ngs to lose,” Al Muzini continued, referring to the Israeli closure of all crossing points into Gaza since Hamas took control of the Mediterranean strip of land last June. Palestinians have been demonstrating over the past few weeks at the Rafah Border Crossing. Al Muzini warned that the peaceful demonstrations could become “something else” if the continued closure of Gaza continues. The spokesman also added that the Islamic Party refused to accept any possible extension of President Mahmoud Abbas’ term when it ends 25 January, 2009. “After his term ends … we will not recognise Abbas as a president.”
