Gazans return home
Egypt is just one of the parties thatcontrols the Rafah crossing [AFP]29 July 2007
More than 100 Palestinians, trapped in Egypt, have begun their trip back to Gaza, almost two months after Hamas took over the territory, prompting the Egyptian government to close the border.
The group's journey began on Sunday under a deal that allows them to pass into Gaza through Israel, a Palestinian official said.
About 1,000 Palestinians gathered in a stadium in el-Arish, where authorities read out the names of the 105 people approved by Israel to return to Gaza using the rarely-used Al-Oja cargo crossing.
From there they will cross into Israel and then into northern Gaza through the Erez crossing.
Hamas has criticised the plan , saying it increases Israel's control over Gaza.
The group were the first of more than 600 stranded Gazans expected to return home on Sunday and Monday.
Hani al-Jabour, a Palestinian embassy official, told reporters that around 627 Palestinians would be allowed to cross into Gaza through Israel under a deal agreed on Saturday.
He said the Palestinians were chosen on a first-come-first-serve basis and that none were wanted by Israel.
Trapped
The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which is jointly controlled by Egypt, Israel, the Palestinians, and overseen by European monitors, is often closed leaving Palestinians stranded, waiting to return home.
Many have been trapped at the crossing since June 9 after fighting broke out between Hamas and Fatah. Some have been there even longer.
International aid groups have repeatedly called the issue of stranded Palestinians at the crossing to be resolved.
The Egyptian Red Crescent estimates that roughly 5,000 Palestinians have been stranded in north Sinai since Hamas seized control of Gaza in June.
Palestinian officials estimate the number of stranded Gazans at between 6,000 and 7,000.
Both Israel and Egypt have rejected demands by Hamas to have partial control of the Rafah crossing.
Source
More than 100 Palestinians, trapped in Egypt, have begun their trip back to Gaza, almost two months after Hamas took over the territory, prompting the Egyptian government to close the border.
The group's journey began on Sunday under a deal that allows them to pass into Gaza through Israel, a Palestinian official said.
About 1,000 Palestinians gathered in a stadium in el-Arish, where authorities read out the names of the 105 people approved by Israel to return to Gaza using the rarely-used Al-Oja cargo crossing.
From there they will cross into Israel and then into northern Gaza through the Erez crossing.
Hamas has criticised the plan , saying it increases Israel's control over Gaza.
The group were the first of more than 600 stranded Gazans expected to return home on Sunday and Monday.
Hani al-Jabour, a Palestinian embassy official, told reporters that around 627 Palestinians would be allowed to cross into Gaza through Israel under a deal agreed on Saturday.
He said the Palestinians were chosen on a first-come-first-serve basis and that none were wanted by Israel.
Trapped
The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which is jointly controlled by Egypt, Israel, the Palestinians, and overseen by European monitors, is often closed leaving Palestinians stranded, waiting to return home.
Many have been trapped at the crossing since June 9 after fighting broke out between Hamas and Fatah. Some have been there even longer.
International aid groups have repeatedly called the issue of stranded Palestinians at the crossing to be resolved.
The Egyptian Red Crescent estimates that roughly 5,000 Palestinians have been stranded in north Sinai since Hamas seized control of Gaza in June.
Palestinian officials estimate the number of stranded Gazans at between 6,000 and 7,000.
Both Israel and Egypt have rejected demands by Hamas to have partial control of the Rafah crossing.
Source
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 2:15 PM
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