GAZA CITY: The Rafah crossing between the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and Egypt was opened on Saturday to allow hundreds of Muslim pilgrims to leave the besieged territory, Palestinian officials said.
The Hamas-appointed crossing authorities said most of those allowed to leave were pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia for the umra or minor pilgrimage to Mecca, in addition to sick people, students, and holders of foreign passports.
We expect to process 1,500 travelers today, if there are no obstacles, including 300 sick people in need of treatment abroad and 300 others who hold foreign nationality, Mohamed Adwan, a spokesman for the crossing, said.
The crossing remained open on Sunday to allow students to leave the impoverished coastal territory to study abroad.
Israel has sealed the Gaza Strip off from all but vital goods since Hamas seized power there in June 2007.
The Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gaza s sole border crossing that bypasses Israel, has been opened only rarely to allow sick people, students, and diplomats to leave the territory of 1.5 million people.
Unlike during past openings, when desperate Gazans had rushed the border and clashed with Hamas and Egyptian security forces, no disturbances were reported.
Travelers boarded buses in Gaza City and Khan Yunis before being driven to the border, and dozens of Hamas security forces fanned out around the crossing to prevent anyone else from approaching.
On Sunday, two Palestinians suffocated inside a tunnel used by smugglers under the border between the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and Egypt, local medics said.
Several Palestinians have died in similar incidents in recent months in the tunnels, which are used to smuggle arms, fuel and other supplies into Gaza. -AFP
