Gaza-Egypt crossing opens for second day

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

GAZA CITY (AFP) — The Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip was open for a second day Sunday to allow hundreds of people to pass into and out of the besieged territory, officials said.

Seventeen buses carrying over 800 people, including medical patients requiring treatment abroad, students, and foreign visa holders, were lined up on the Gaza side, Mohammed Odwan, a spokesman for the crossing, told AFP.

On Saturday some 1,900 people crossed into Egypt and nearly 900 crossed from Egypt into Gaza, Odwan said, adding that the crossing would close Sunday night.

Israel has sealed Gaza off from all but limited humanitarian aid since the Islamist Hamas movement seized power in June 2007 after driving out forces loyal to Western-backed...