As of January 2nd, the Palestinian death toll in Gaza is 428 and is growing as bombs continue to fall. Even while large protests erupt on the streets of cities across the Middle East, many see Egypt and other US backed dictatorships in the region as complicit in the Israeli campaign.

Ever since Hamas gained control of Gaza last year, Egypt has kept its border tightly sealed, allowing Israel to control all goods and people entering and leaving. One day before the latest Israeli bombing of Gaza began, Egyptian officials told Hamas representatives that Israel had agreed to begin talks on a ceasefire and would not attack Gaza before Cairo ended its diplomatic efforts. When Israel started its bombing campaign the Egyptian government was quick to blame Hamas and violently assault Egyptians who protested against Israel's actions. Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak even stated in a televised address that the Rafah border crossing will remain closed until Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas regains control of the Gaza Strip from Hamas.

Anger against the Egyptian government is growing in both Egypt and in neighboring countries. On December 30th, demonstrators in the Yemeni port city of Aden broke into the Egyptian consulate in a protest against Cairo's response to Israel's offensive against Gaza; after "vandalising furniture", protesters burned the Egyptian flag and hoisted a Palestinian banner on top of building.

There have also been reports of attacks on protesters in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Related Coverage On Indybay: Egypt seen as complicit in Gaza assault | Government contortions, public anger | Rafah crossing to remain closed until PA regains Gaza, says Mubarak | Egypt and Jordan crack down on anti-Israel rallies | Saudi police break up pro-Gaza protest | Palestinian police ban pro-Hamas rallies in West Bank | Robert Fisk: The rotten state of Egypt is too powerless and corrupt to act | Nasrallah urges Egypt to stop helping siege of Gaza | Opposition says Mubarak blessed Israeli attacks | Gaza hides a war over the Arabs' future | Iran's Support of Hamas Unnerves Egypt | Yemen: Students assault vandalise Egyptian consulate

Related First Hand Blog Accounts: 3arabawy: News Updates From An Egyptian Journalist | A Scandinavian in Egypt | Sarah Carr Photos Of Egyptian Protests | Saudi Jeans: Taking to Streets in Saudi Arabia

Background: Israel Blockade Leads to Tearing Down of Egyptian Border Wall | Hamas Seizes Full Control of Gaza | Wikipedia: Hosni Mubarak | Wikipedia: Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty | Wikipedia: Black September Jordanian Crackdown On Early PLO