Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak discussed efforts to lift the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, at a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas. Egypt reopened its border with the Gaza Strip following the deadly raid on a flotilla of Gaza-bound aid boats by Israeli forces in May. Mubarak also discussed Abbas' recent tour that took him to Turkey, the United States, Spain and France. Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit, Yasser Abd-Rabo, of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat also attended the meeting held in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Abbas met with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa late on Monday, following Moussa's first visit to the Gaza Strip since he took the post, where he met with Hamas officials. Moussa entered the enclave via the Rafah crossing point, which Egypt reopened on June 1, after Israels seizure of the 6-vessel aid flotilla. Around 10,000 Palestinians have crossed the border and tons of medical and humanitarian aid have also been driven into the enclave. Israel has maintained a blockade on the Gaza Strip since Hamas took control of the area in 2007.
