Egyptian military helicopters entered Gaza’s airspace for the third time in less than a month, a Palestinian source said on Monday.
A source close to Hamas told DPA news agency that several helicopters were seen early this morning at the border between Egyptian Rafah and Palestinian Rafah, a Sinai town that straddles the border between the two territories.
Two helicopters hovered over Palestinian neighborhoods at the border for around half an hour before flying in the direction of the Mediterranean Sea, the source added.
This is the third time Egyptian helicopters have been seen in the area in less than a month, at a time when the Sinai Peninsula is witnessing intense clashes between armed groups and armed forces in the wake of the 30 June protests that led to the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsy.
Ihab al-Ghassin, spokesperson for the Hamas government, earlier said that Egyptian helicopters had been seen in Gaza, but did not elaborate.
The Islamic resistance movement recently complained about tightening procedures imposed by Egyptian authorities on the functioning of the Rafah border crossing and Egypt’s crackdown on smuggling tunnels at the border.
