Gaza celebrates Morsi’s lead in preliminary results

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip celebrated Monday morning the preliminary results of the Egyptian presidential elections which indicated a win for Mohammed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate. Dozens of cars and motorcycles decorated with the Egyptian flag,  together with the flag of the Hamas Movement of photographs of Morsi took to the streets in jubilation. Palestinians have high hopes that the Brotherhood candidate will solve the problem of the blockade imposed on the Strip since 2007. Abu Ahmed, a Palestinian citizens in his 60s, said: “In every way,  Morsi will not be like Mubarak and his aides.” Abu Ahmed, who lives in Gaza, added that the circumstances Egypt is experiencing automatically reflect on Palestine, especially Gaza, explaining that the first repercussion of the dissolution of the People’s Assembly was the fuel shortage in Gaza. Abu Jamil, another elderly man, said that Egyptians were not the only ones counting the minutes to find out who will be the next president; "Palestinians cannot wait to hear the official results that will be announced on Thursday" he said. Palestinian observers say that the stranglehold of  the siege on the Gaza Strip,  is the biggest concern for Palestinians who are waiting for the new president to be announced. This subject represents a huge challenge for Israel who want to impose an international blockade on the Strip, whose inhabitants are already suffering from food shortages and fuel.   Palestinians are looking forward in anticipation to the incumbent Egyptian president,  to heal the wounds of the Palestinian division, in addition to creating peace between Palestinians and the occupation. In Israel, a state of concern and suspense prevails should Morsi, who is close to Hamas proves to be the outright winner.  Israeli politicians are treading very carefully with this issue by avoiding attacking any of the competing parties in order not to affect the peace agreement.