GAZA CITY: An Egyptian border post at Rafah in southern Gaza was opened on Saturday for the first time in 10 weeks, the Islamist movement Hamas which controls the blockaded Palestinian territory said.
Its interior ministry said around 300 Palestinians had crossed the border on Saturday and that 8,000 others were expected to follow during the opening due to last three days.
The 1.5 million residents of the impoverished Gaza Strip have largely relied on a network of tunnels under the Egyptian border since Israel and Egypt tightened an already strict closure after Hamas seized power in 2007.
Most of the tunnels are used to bring in basic goods such as food, household appliances and livestock, but Hamas and other militant groups use more secret tunnels to bring in arms and money.
Egypt is building an underground wall in a bid to curb smuggling, which it views as a security risk.
