Egypt prevents Hamas member from crossing into Gaza with cash

Mar 17, 2009, 20:16 GMT

Rafah, Egypt - Egyptian security forces on Tuesday prevented a member in the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas from crossing into the Gaza Strip carrying some 850,000 dollars in cash, according to an Egyptian security source.

The member, who was not named, was among the delegates leaving Egypt via the Rafah border crossing following the conclusion of a first round of the Cairo-hosted intensive reconciliation talks between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah.

He was carrying 260,000 dollars and 454,000 euros, the source said.

An customs official at the Rafah crossing confirmed the incident, adding that the Hamas official and the money were still in Egypt.

Last month, senior Hamas member Ayman Taha was also prevented from crossing into Gaza via Rafah when border guards found around 12 million dollars in his bags.

Taha was allowed back into Gaza after he deposited the money at a bank the north Sinai town of al-Arish.

The Palestinian territory has a shortage of cash caused by the Israeli blockade which has been imposed on Gaza since Hamas seized it in June 2007.

Israel complains that Hamas smuggles money and weapons through Egypt into the enclave.