After Israel’s May 31 raid on a civilian vessel trying to deliver goods to Gaza, Egypt announced on June 1 that it would temporarily open its border with Rafah to allow humanitarian and medical aid into the Gaza Strip.
On May 31, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak responded swiftly to the Israeli navy's assault on the Freedom Flotilla, affirming Egypt's support for the people of Gaza.
Israel’s ambassador to Egypt was quickly summoned by Egypt’s foreign ministry, and told Egypt condemns the violence against international activists and rejects the continued Gaza blockade.
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One of the US governments most important allies in the Middle East was shaken in early April by strikes and demonstrations over rising food prices.
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More than 1500 activists from the Middle East and around the world met in Cairo from March 29 to April 1 under the banner, Towards an International Alliance against Imperialism and Zionism. The conference the fifth held in Cairo since 2002 by the International Campaign against US and Zionist Occupation brought together Islamic, nationalist and socialist forces from the region, together with delegates from anti-war coalitions in Canada, Korea, Venezuela and Europe.