Egyptian forces have begun cracking down on the flood of Palestinians seeking relief from the ongoing Israeli assault and blockade of Gaza. As much as half of Gaza’s population of 1.5 million people have streamed into Egypt since militants blew up parts of the border wall in Rafah. Earlier today, Egyptian riot police used water cannons to try to push back the crowds. Egypt says it plans to seal off the border later today. A Gaza resident said the population is only seeking to survive.

Resident: “We came to get food and diesel only to bring electricity to Gaza. We want to eat and drink, nothing more.”

The desperation on the border comes as the Israeli assault on Gaza continues. Overnight, Israeli warplanes killed four alleged Hamas militants near the Rafah border. Israel has killed more than forty Palestinians in the past ten days. Aid officials continue to warn of a humanitarian crisis as Israel limits the supplies of fuel, food and medical relief. Israel says it’s taking action to stop Palestinian rocket attacks that have injured several Israelis. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Israeli President Shimon Peres said Gaza has in fact “blockaded itself.”

Israeli President Shimon Peres: “We don’t blockade, Gaza blockades itself. The minute they stop shooting, they won’t have any problems. We never started shooting at them. The minute they stop shooting at us, there will be a ceasefire.”

Also in Davos, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa accused Israel of collective punishment.

Amr Moussa: “The Israelis have squeezed this sector and its population, starved them, stopped giving anything — energy or medicaments or food — and this is contrary to their obligations as the occupying power. You know, Gaza and the Palestinian territories are under the Israeli military occupation, and this should be ruled or governed by the international humanitarian law. There is a serious violation of that law by the Israeli forces. Therefore, the inhabitants couldn’t survive except by moving to Cairo, and Egypt has helped them. Of course, what else can we do.”