Bad signs from Gaza....

The Egyptians need to get a handle on the situation (as do the Palestinians).

Smugglers have brought large amounts of weapons and bullets into Gaza from Egypt, and the influx has cut black market prices, Palestinian officials and a weapons dealer said Wednesday.

An arms dealer said the price of an AK-47 assault rifle has dropped from 1,400 Jordanian dinars ($1,977) to about 900 dinars ($1,300). Bullets for the weapon are now being sold for as little as three shekels (less than $1) when previously they cost up to 18 shekels ($4).

Egyptian-made pistols that were recently sold in Gaza for $1,400 can now be bought for as little as $177, while an Italian pistol can be bought for $400, down from a previous high of $3,500, said the dealer, who identified himself only as Khader, for fear of arrest.

Most of the arms were bought from Bedouins and farmers on the Egyptian side of the border, Khader said. A Palestinian border control officer confirmed arms have been smuggled into Gaza, bringing down prices.

On Wednesday morning, Hamas operatives blew up a wall in Rafah in order to facilitate the uncontrolled flow of Palestinians and Egyptians streaming across the Gaza-Egypt border.

The gunmen threatened a PA security officer at the site not to seal the hole, vowing that for every hole sealed they would create ten more.