Celebrations in Gaza, Lebanon Mark Toppling of Mubarak

People across the Middle East hope the fall of the Egyptian president signals hope for their own countries.

Spontaneous celebrations have erupted in Jordan, the Gaza Strip, and Lebanon in the wake of the resignation of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. While many are simply standing in solidarity with the Egyptian people, regime change in Egypt could have direct implications for other territories in the region, particularly the Gaza Strip. Under Mubarak, Egypt was instrumental in sealing off the western border of the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli blockade ever since the militant group Hamas was elected to power in 2007. The blockade has made life miserable for Palestinians in Gaza, crippling the economy but also preventing the flow of weapons to Hamas. Palestinians hope the post-Mubarak government will ease border restrictions.