55 injured in Gaza protests
Wednesday, 6 January 2010 09:25At least 55 people, including an Irish man, were injured after Egyptian police clashed with pro-Palestinian activists trying to take a convoy of relief supplies to Gaza.
Over 500 international volunteers, including several from Ireland, blocked the gate at the port in El-Arish to protest after Egypt insisted that some of the goods pass through Israel.
The organisers of the convoy want all the supplies to enter Gaza via the Egyptian-controlled Rafah border crossing.
Cairo has imposed strict regulations and restrictions on pro-Palestinian foreign activists who have held protests in Egypt since late December to mark the first anniversary of Israel's three-week offensive on Hamas-ruled Gaza.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that an Irish man travelling with the aid convoy suffered minor injuries in the protest yesterday evening.
The Irish Embassy is providing consular assistance and has been in direct contact with the man who is believed to be from Cork.
