Hamas blames Abbas for hindering Rafah crossing from reopening

GAZA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A Hamas leader on Wednesday blamed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the continuing closure of a key border crossing point into the Gaza Strip. Gaza ruler Hamas "has worked hard to open Rafah crossing but President Abbas was the obstacle in this case," said Mahmoud Zahar, foreign minister in the deposed Hamas unity government. "He uses the Americans and the Israelis to pressure the Egyptian side to prevent the opening of the crossing," Zahar added. The crossing between Gaza and Egypt was closed last year when Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and took over the enclave. According to a U.S.-brokered deal in 2005, Rafah can not be opened without the presence of pro-Abbas forces and European Union (EU) monitors. Hamas said it does not mind that the EU monitors return to the crossing "without Israeli... [read full story]