Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    GAZA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Palestinian travelers broke into the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing on Wednesday, a day after being stuck between the Palestinian and the Egyptian gates, witnesses said.

    Some of the travelers could cross into the Egyptian territory as Egyptian forces boosted its presence with anti-riot gear. The Egyptians also opened water cannons at the Palestinians who were pushing towards the gates.

    Palestinian youths threw stones towards Egyptian forces at Rafah crossing and Palestinian forces that deployed on the border. Three Palestinians were reportedly injured by stones.

    Egypt announced that the crossing was closed following the turmoil, Palestinian sources said. The Hamas-controlled interior ministry also called on the people to evacuate the crossing.

    Hamas Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said what happened at Rafah crossing "reflects the state of pressure that the Palestinians go through in the Gaza Strip."

    Earlier on the day, Hamas announced its discontent with the way Egypt used when it opened its border with Gaza Tuesday to allow stranded Palestinians and patients to cross.

    The Egyptian "is part of Gaza siege because they increase the suffering of the Palestinian people instead of easing it," said Ihab al-Ghussein, spokesman of the Hamas-controlled interior ministry.

    On Tuesday, Egypt opened Rafah crossing point for three days before Palestinian patients and travelers who stuck in Gaza and at the Egyptian side.

    But there are 1500 registered Palestinian patients, Egypt only allowed 25 of them to cross, in addition to 130 stranded people out of some 6,000 travelers, according to al-Ghussein.

    "The Egyptian side committed big violations and returned two traveler buses despite an earlier agreement to allow the two buses in," al-Ghussein added.

    The Rafah gate, the only crossing for Gaza travelers, was sealed off in June 2007 after Hamas took control of the Gaza Stripby force.

    In May, this year, Egypt succeeded to broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel to halt Israeli raids into Gaza and ease the siege that Israel imposed on the territory since Hamas ousted the western-backed Fatah movement and the forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. 

Hamas voices discontent with Egypt's procedure at Rafah crossing

    GAZA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Wednesday announced its discontent with the way Egypt used when it opened its border with Gaza Tuesday to allow stranded Palestinians and patients to cross.

    The Egyptian "is part of Gaza siege because they increase the suffering of the Palestinian people instead of easing it," said Ihab al-Ghussein, spokesman of the Hamas-controlled interior ministry.   Full story

Israel reopens Gaza border crossings

    JERUSALEM, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Israel reopened its border crossings with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, after a one-day closure imposed in what it called a response to a rocket attack from the Hamas-ruled enclave.

    Four crossings between the Jewish state and the Palestinian territory reopened in the morning, allowing a string of supplies into the largely blockaded area.  Full story

Egypt opens Rafah crossing for humanitarian cases

    CAIRO, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian authorities on Tuesday temporarily opened the Rafah crossing at its border with the Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip for Palestinians stranded at both sides, the official MENA news agency reported.

    Some 50 Palestinians, including patients, students and workers, have already crossed into Egypt, a well-placed source at the crossing was quoted as saying.   Full story