Egypt reseals Gaza border; Hamas seeks leader role

RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Egyptian police sealed Gaza's border with huge metal spikes and shipping containers Sunday, restoring a tight blockade after a breach that allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to cross freely for 12 days.

Gaza's Hamas rulers are demanding new border arrangements that would give it a say in administration. But that looks doubtful with the international community opposed to any role for the Islamic militant group in running the crossing.

Gaza residents settled back into their dreary closure routine after joyous days of freedom and shopping that flooded the territory with sheep, smoked herring and fuel from Egypt.

"We're back to the same siege and the same problems," said Alaa al-Astal, 33, a security guard at a Gaza university.

"At least it (the breach) got me this," he added, proudly pointing to a Chinese-made motorbike he bought in Egypt for $1,000 in hopes of cutting the cost of his work commute in half.

Egypt warned Hamas against trying to open the border by force again, as it did on Jan. 23.

"Egypt is a respected state. Its border cannot be breached and its soldiers should not be lobbed with stones," said Suleiman Awwad, spokesman for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

The border breach temporarily relieved a seven-month blockade, imposed by Israel and Egypt after Hamas seized Gaza by force in June.

The opening briefly boosted the popularity of Hamas, as hundreds of thousands of blockade-weary Gazans rushed to Egypt's border region, stocking up on supplies from dishwashing liquid to yeast, cigarettes, mattresses and cement.

On Sunday, the traffic slowed to a trickle as helmeted Egyptian border guards with plastic shields blocked the remaining border openings, allowing only Gazans and Egyptians who found themselves on the wrong side of the border to return home.

Dozens of Gazans crowded around the Egyptian forces, whose faces were protected by plastic visors.

"Egyptians only and those with visas for Egypt," shouted one burly guard, openly frustrated that Gazans were repeatedly trying to get to the other side despite the closure.

Bearded Hamas police worked in tandem with the Egyptians, trying to keep the crowd back. It was a marked change from several days ago, when uniformed Hamas men thwarted Egyptian attempts to reseal the border.