Egypt again blamed Hamas for the IDF's Operation Cast Lead. In an interview Saturday, Egyptian labor Minister Aisha Abed el-Hadi said that the Hamas leadership had "adopted a radical, terrorist approach," which was causing untold suffering to Gazans, especially because of its "stubborn refusal to agree to a cease fire with Israel."
She added that while Egypt had opened the Rafiach crossing to allow injured Gazans to seek medical treatment in Egypt, Cairo would not allow other Gaza residents into Sinai, "in order not to allow Israel to accomplish its goal of resettling the Palestinians in Sinai."