Palestinian police crackdown on Gaza chaos

Palestinian forces sealed off five major breaches along Gaza’s porous southern border, fired warning shots in the air and clashed with stone-throwing crowds today, in their strongest effort yet to halt the chaotic flood of people in and out of Egypt since Israel’s withdrawal from the area.

Throughout the day, crowds pelted Palestinian and Egyptian troops with rocks and managed to force their way across the border. But in contrast to previous days, the forces appeared determined to carry out Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ promise to have the border under control by early next week. Eight people were wounded.