Egyptian prisoners in Tel Aviv have sent a letter to the Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Araby demanding their release in a prisoner swap for Ilan Grapel, the alleged Israeli spy arrested in Egypt. Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip protested in front of the Egyptian consulate to demand the release of 100 Palestinians from Israeli prisons in a swap for Grapel.
The Israeli National News website Arutz Sheva reported on Saturday that the Egyptian prisoners were arrested for participating in the resistance movement against Israeli occupation in Palestine.
The site also reported that Araby refused to meet an Israeli delegation to discuss the release of alleged Israeli spy Ilan Grapel. He said the issue is non-negotiable as it affects Egypt's national security.
In a report, the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners said 21 Egyptians are detained in Israeli prisons and released a list of their names.
Yedioth Ahronoth, a daily newspaper published in Tel Aviv, reported Saturday that the relatives of prisoners held banners calling for the prisoner swap as soon as possible.
In other news, a security source stressed that Egypt rejects Palestinians calling for allowing Palestinians to cross at the Rafah border without any security restrictions or procedures. The source told Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) that Egyptian authorities reserve the right to refuse entry to any person they deem a threat to national security.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities on Saturday decided to close a key commercial crossing for two days. Rae'd Fattouh, chairman of the committee admitting goods into Gaza, told a Palestinian news agency that the Israeli side informed Gaza that the Karam Abu Salem crossing will be closed for two days, Friday and Saturday, but reopened on Sunday.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
