CAIRO: Eight members of the International Movement to Open the Rafah Border called for a mass gathering starting June 27, when it is rumored the crossing will be opened for three days. Members of the movement have camped at the Rafah border crossing for seven days now with some starting hunger strikes. "We call to all those who want to enter the Gaza Strip and those who want the end of the siege, to come to the border on these days, in order to check if it is really open. And, if it is not, to ask for the opening, in great numbers, the movement said in a statement. One member, Don Bryant, has been on a hunger strike for four days. Two other members stayed on hunger strike for three days. The hunger strike began in protest over the removal of a Palestinian-Belgian man from the crossing. "I was inspired by a Palestinian-Belgian, Mohamed, who joined our camp but was driven away by border security late last night. Mohamed told me of a 17-day hunger strike he did with other prisoners in an Israeli prison, Bryant said in a statement. "They were on strike to gain simple accommodation in the prison. I am doing the same to ask the US, Israel, Palestinian Authority and Egypt to open the border to Gaza, so that 1.5 million Gazans can get food and medicine, and can rebuild after Israeli military strikes that have left the Gaza Strip decimated, he added. The eight-strong delegation is accompanied at the border by others, mainly Palestinians, wanting to get into Gaza, including a German woman and her six children aged 2-12, who wants to enter Gaza to join her Palestinian husband and three other children. Nine Swedish-Palestinians, including four children, are also camped with the delegation at the border crossing. Bryant told Daily News Egypt Friday that Australian members of the delegation were currently in Al-Arish but were refused entry to the crossing by authorities.
