Fate of many stranded Palestinians unclear

Updated: 16:25, Monday, 30 July 2007

A further 313 of the thousands of Palestinians stranded in Egypt have crossed into Israel on their way to Gaza.

1 of 1Gaza - Border closed after Hamas takeover
Gaza - Border closed after Hamas takeover

A further 313 of the thousands of Palestinians stranded in Egypt have crossed into Israel on their way to Gaza.

An estimated 6,000 Palestinians have been stranded on the Egyptian side of the divided border town of Rafah since Hamas' takeover of Gaza in June.

The Rafah crossing was closed during the violent clashes between Hamas and Fatah and has remained closed since.

Today some of those stranded by the border closure were allowed through the al-Oja/Nizana cargo point south of the Rafah crossing, from where they were taken through Israel to the Erez terminal in northern Gaza.

The Rafah terminal, Gaza's only link to the outside world that bypasses Israel, is operated by Egypt, EU monitors, Israel and the Palestinians.

It can be closed if any one party refuses to participate.

The fate of the remaining Palestinians remains in limbo as does that of the 107 Palestinians stranded at El-Arish airport near the border.

Those at the airport have been seeking to highlight their plight, complaining of increasingly desperate living conditions.

Clashes broke out at the airport last week, with riot police deployed after close to 100 people fought with security, breaking windows and glass doors.

The Palestinians, who only had transit visas for Egypt, arrived in Cairo in June and had expected to travel onwards to Gaza before the border was closed.

They have remained at the airport since 15 June.

Live Player

  • Next
  • 16:00 - 16:10

    Nuacht RTÉ

  • 17:20 - 18:00

    Sinn Fein Ard Fheis: The Leader's Speech

  • Later
  • 18:01 - 18:30

    RTÉ News: Six One and Weather

  • 23:20 - 23:40

    RTÉ News and Weather