Egypt opens sealed Gaza crossing
Rafah crossing to remain open for two days, allowing thousands of Egyptian citizens stuck in Gaza to return home. Palestinians: Reopening crossing goodwill gesture ahead of Ramadan
Palestinian officials said Egypt has opened its sealed border crossing with the Gaza Strip, allowing hundreds of people to enter and leave the coastal territory.
Egypt opened the Rafah crossing on Saturday for two days, allowing thousands of Egyptian citizens stuck in Gaza to return home. They are also allowing hundreds of Palestinians needing medical treatment to enter Egypt.
Palestinians with foreign residency permits will also leave Gaza. Palestinians stuck in Egypt will be able to return to Gaza.
Egyptian sources said some 100 people have crossed into Egypt and 200 Palestinians have returned home to Gaza, while Palestinian officials said more than 500 Egyptians and Gazans with foreign residency permits have already crossed into Egypt and they expect hundreds more to follow.
The officials believe Egypt is opening the crossing as a goodwill gesture before the holy Muslim month of Ramadan which begins next week.
Egypt sealed its Gaza crossing last year after militant Muslim group Hamas seized power of the territory.
Hamas wants Egypt to permanently open Rafah to ease an Israel-led blockade, but under a US-brokered agreement signed in November 2005, they cannot do so without the consent of Israel and Hamas-rival Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
