The Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt was opened on Saturday to allow hundreds of Muslim pilgrims to leave the besieged territory ruled by Hamas, Palestinian officials said. The crossing will be open on Saturday and Sunday, an official said, adding some 3,000 Gazans had registered for departure during the two days.However, the Hamas-appointed crossing authorities said most of those allowed to leave were pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia for Omra (minor pilgrimage) to Mecca during the Holy month of Ramadan, in addition to sick people, students, and holders of foreign passports.
"We expect to process 1,500 travelers today, if there are no obstacles, including 300 sick people in need of treatment abroad and 300 others who hold foreign nationality," Mohammed Adwan, a spokesman for the crossing, said. He added that the crossing would remain open on Sunday to allow students to leave the impoverished coastal territory to study abroad.
The Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gaza's sole border crossing that bypasses Israel, has been opened only rarely to allow sick people, students, and diplomats to leave the territory of 1.5 million people.
Unlike during past openings, when desperate Gazans had rushed the border and clashed with Hamas and Egyptian security forces, no disturbances were reported. Travelers boarded buses in Gaza City and Khan Yunis before being driven to the border, and dozens of Hamas security forces fanned out around the crossing to prevent anyone else from approaching.