Egyptian security forces announced by loudspeaker in towns near the border with the Gaza Strip that the frontier would be closed from 1300 GMT, according to witnesses.

A human tide of Palestinians has swarmed out of Gaza into Egypt for the second day after militants blew open the border in a bid to break a punishing Israeli blockade.

Palestinians are continuing to cross into Egypt for a second day to stock up on food, fuel and household supplies that have been scarce in the Gaza Strip since Israel imposed a blockade on the territory last week.

Thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip poured into an Egyptian border town, early Wednesday, after militants blew a large hole in the border wall overnight that separates Gaza from Egypt. VOA's Jim Teeple has details from our Jerusalem Bureau.

Following a day of debate, the U.N. Security Council could not agree on language for a statement condemning the deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip. From U.N. headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

Israel has allowed a one-day delivery of food and fuel to the Gaza Strip, partially lifting a nearly week-long blockade of the territory. VOA's Jim Teeple has details from our Jerusalem bureau.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has decided to allow the delivery of some fuel and medical supplies into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip beginning Tuesday.

Gaza Strip's only power plant has shut down due to an Israeli border closure that is blocking fuel deliveries. The generating station's shutdown late Sunday plunged large parts of the Gaza territory and many of its one1.5 million people into darkness. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, the tightening siege on Gaza has raised fears of a humanitarian crisis in the impoverished Palestinian territory.

Hundreds of Palestinians who made the pilgrimage to Mecca are stranded on the Egyptian side of the Gaza border following a dispute over security checks.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has criticised Tel Aviv's response which includes cutting fuel and power supply to the Gaza Strip.

Hamas fighters took control of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza on Thursday, after crushing resistance from pro-presidential Fatah, local eyewitnesses said. "Hamas fighters are on the city streets, and are moving unhindered in Rafah - we see no signs of resistance from the Fatah side," one local said.