Palestinian PM urges locals to protect Gaza Strip

PALESTINIAN prime minister Ahmed Qureia surveyed the wreckage of Israel’s former Gaza Strip settlements yesterday after his government was handed control of the whole territory.

As locals continued a looting spree the day after Israeli troops left the territory, Mr Qureia urged the Palestinian people to protect the land and infrastructure bequeathed by their occupiers, and build for the future.

The looting and chaos at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, where control has effectively broken down, illustrates the huge task facing the Palestinian leadership to reverse the fortunes of the impoverished strip of coastal land.