When Palestinian “police” stormed the Gaza-Egypt border today, European observers turned tail and fled.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Palestinian policemen angry over the killing of a fellow officer stormed the Gaza-Egypt border crossing Friday, firing shots in the air and forcing European monitors to close the border and flee, Palestinian and European officials said.

About 100 policemen entered the Rafah compound and took up positions alongside border patrol officers at the customs section of the crossing, Palestinian security officials and witnesses said.

The European observers — responsible for monitoring the crossing and ensuring the terms of an Israeli-Palestinian agreement are upheld — fled the area, officials said. …

The border was closed because according to the Israeli-Palestinian agreement the crossing cannot operate if the European contingent is not present, said Julio De La Guardia, spokesman for the European monitors.

“Our monitors are now in the Kerem Shalom military base. When the situation is clear, and these people leave, we will go back to our work,” De La Guardia said. Kerem Shalom is an Israeli military base on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza.