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Egypt ban surprises Hamas

Egypt's decision this week to ban Hamas activities has caught the Palestinian Islamist movement off guard, with concerns it's heading on a collision course with Cairo.
Members of Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas patrol at the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip March 4, 2014.  An Egyptian court on Tuesday banned all activities of Hamas in Egypt in a further sign that Cairo's military-backed government aims to squeeze the Palestinian Islamist group that rules neighbouring Gaza, regarding it as a security threat. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR3G12V
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The Gaza Strip is living through a state of tension after a Cairo court ruled on March 3 to ban all Hamas activities in Egypt, freeze their funds and close their headquarters. This came in response to a lawsuit accusing Hamas of storming Egypt’s border in 2008, and of being involved in the storming of Egyptian prisons during the January 2011 revolution.

The decision worsened the already tense relationship between Egypt and Hamas.

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