Hamas

   Israel is denying Hamas claims that trucks that entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt on Wednesday night were carrying arms and weapons for security forces linked to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. According to Hamas sources, three trucks entered via the Kerem Shalom crossing, and unloaded their cargo in a facility belonging to Abbas' Presidential Guards. Israel, Egypt and Abbas' office denied the trucks were carrying weapons. Israeli security sources said they were bringing tents and portable bathrooms for Abbas' security forces. A source in the Presidential Guard told a Kol Israel reporter that the trucks had humanitarian aid donated by the United Arab Emirates. Also,the EU monitors at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip will not attempt to stop Hamas officials bringing large sums of cash into the strip from Egypt, media reported. The deputy head of the EU Border Assistance Mission Patrick Delval told that such an action does not come under their mandate and for the moment the Rafah crossing remains closed. (11,54)