US, Israel 'concerned' over Palestinians pouring into Egypt from Gaza

The United States expressed concern Wednesday about the tens of thousands of Palestinians pouring into Egypt from Gaza.

Palestinian gunmen affiliated with different organizations set off several explosive devices on Tuesday night along the concrete wall dividing the Palestinian and Egyptian Rafah, after the crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip were closed off.

Thousands of Gaza's residents began pouring into the Sinai Peninsula early Wednesday through the breach created in the wall. Shortly afterwards, Egyptian authorities were forced to open the border. Some 350,000 people had reportedly crossed into Sinai by the afternoon hours.

''We are concerned about that situation and frankly I know the Egyptians are as well,'' State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said.

David Welch, the assistant secretary of state for the Middle East, has talked to Egyptian authorities about the situation, Casey said, adding that the Egyptians take border security seriously and that he has no indication the situation has affected Israeli-Palestinian relations for now.

Earlier Wednesday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered a muted response, saying in Switzerland that the US wants to see stability in the region, but that ''most importantly both the security concerns of Israel and the humanitarian concerns of Gazans be met.''

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel noted Wednesday that Israel has no forces on the Gaza-Egypt border. ''Therefore it is the responsibility Egypt to ensure that the border operates properly, according to the signed agreements,'' he said. ''We expect the Egyptians to solve the problem. Obviously we are worried about the situation. It could potentially allow anybody to enter.''

PA: Crossings must be opened officially

Meanwhile Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad argued that Gaza's borders should be opened officially, and also pressed for an end to Israeli settlement expansion.

Fayyad, whose West Bank-based government has little influence in Hamas-controlled Gaza, met with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday.

''The Palestinians in Gaza get only very little, which is just enough to survive,'' Fayyad said through an interpreter after meeting Steinmeier. ''What happened yesterday and today is clear evidence that the situation cannot remain this way and that it is important to open the crossings again officially.''

He did not elaborate on how the crossings should be opened.

Ali Waked, Roni Sofer and AP contributed to this report