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Egypt Partly Opens Border with Gaza

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Egypt partially opened its border with the Gaza Strip on Sunday to allow movement of humanitarian cases out of Gaza and the return of stranded people.

Adel Zourob, spokesman for border crossings at Hamas administration in Gaza, said that Rafah terminal would be open for three days for the sick, students and holders of foreign passports.

But Zourob said that Egypt denied access to travelers who have visiting permission to other countries without clarifying the reasons.

Some travelers headed for Rafah crossing via buses after getting their names enrolled in advance through Hamas' interior ministry. "Until the noon, more than 150 people were able to make their way to Egypt successfully," Zourob says.

Two Arab inquiry committees will also enter Gaza Strip via Rafah crossing to investigate the recent Israeli offensive that killed more than 1,300 Palestinians and displaced thousands of families. The committees will report to the Arab League.

It is the first time that Egypt opens Rafah crossing before stranded Palestinians after the end of the Israeli offensive on January 18. During the 22-day war, Egypt only opened Rafah crossing before patients, international journalists and aid workers.

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2009)

 

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