Egypt has briefly opened its border with blockaded Gaza, and 5,000 Gazans have signed up to leave over three days. --PHOTO: REUTERS
GAZA CITY (Gaza Strip) - EGYPT has briefly opened its border with blockaded Gaza, and 5,000 Gazans have signed up to leave over three days.
The Rafah border terminal opened on Saturday. Among those permitted to cross are medical patients and Gazas with foreign residency.
Egypt and Israel sealed Gaza's borders two years ago, after the Islamic militant Hamas seized control of the territory. The closure has trapped some 1.4 people in Gaza.
Egypt opens the crossing periodically, like on Saturday. Israel has allowed in food and humanitarian aid, but banned supplies needed to repair damage from Israel's winter war on Hamas, meant to stop Gaza rocket fire on Israeli towns.
On Friday, the international community called for lifting the Gaza blockade. -- AP
