July 2, 2008 - 10:28PM
Egypt has closed its border with the Gaza Strip after hundreds of Palestinians stormed it and clashed with police a day after the border was temporarily reopened.
Angry crowds, who have been waiting for hours to be allowed to pass through the Rafah crossing, swept through the checkpoint and entered Egyptian territory by force, security officials said.
Egyptian border guards used water cannon to disperse the Palestinians, who threw rocks at them. All border checkpoints have been closed, according to security sources.
The Palestinians were frustrated that only scores of Gazans have been allowed to cross the border since Egypt opened it on Tuesday morning for two days following a truce agreement between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
In January, Hamas militants blew open the border, allowing hundreds of thousands to pour into Egypt to stock up on food and humanitarian supplies after months of an Israel blockade of the Hamas-run territory.
The blockade, coming in response to rocket attacks fired from the territory, deprived Palestinians of basic commodities, such as food, medicine and fuel.
Satellite photo of the Gaza Strip (2005)The border between Egypt and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip has closed again after Palestinians attacked the border. The border opened again on Tuesday, but after Wednesday's events, was once again closed.

Egypt had opened the border to allow people stranded on either side to go across, and to allow Palestinians access to supplies and services such as health care. When Egypt restricted passage to only small groups of people, Palestinians began to grow restless.

There are reports of stones being thrown at Egyptian and Palestinian border guards. Three Palestinians are reported to be injured. To repel the riot, the Egyptians used water-canons to keep crowds at bay. The Egypt-Gaza border is now sealed again.

Hamas militants have previously forced open the Egyptian border in January to allow Palestinians to get essential supplies that have been cut off due to an Israeli blockade. Israel has since allowed supplies to flow into the Gaza Strip as per a ceasefire agreement.