Palestinians flock to reopened Egyptian border

The Rafah crossing    Hundreds of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip flocked to enter Egypt via the Rafah border crossing as it reopened on Saturday after a closure of four years. Among the first to cross the coastal enclave's only border post not controlled by Israel were two ambulances ferrying patients from the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip for treatment in Egypt as well as a bus carrying 50 visitors.
"I've been waiting for this for years and I'm delighted with the facilities offered by Egyptian authorities allowing me to travel to Turkey at last," said Samah al-Rawagh, 25, one of 200 Palestinians who crossed by early afternoon.
"I tried twice before to cross but was turned back both times," he said.
Jamal Nijem, 53, however, whose wife and daughter live in his spouses's native Egypt, was unsure whether the easing of crossing would also apply to him.
"I came here three years ago to rejoin my family but my Egyptian residency permit had run out because of frequent closures of the crossing, and the security services barred me from going back," he said.
According to the entry conditions cited by Egypt's state news agency MENA, the passage is open to all except men aged between 18 and 40, who need authorisation from the Egyptian security service. Accredited students at Egyptian universities are to be allowed to cross freely.
But 21-year-old Aman Mahdi was also cautious. She hopes her husband will be able to accompany her to Malaysia for medical treatment.
"I've been trying in vain for four months to travel. I am registered, but there have not been any concrete results due to a lack of coordination with the Egyptian authorities. I hope this time we can finally leave," she said.
According to an official in charge of administrative procedures on the Palestinian side of the terminal, "the process is going without a hitch, and we are providing the facilities for travellers to pass quickly and comfortably."
On the Egyptian side, an official added: "We are going to do everything possible to ease the passage of our Palestinian brothers, and we hope procedures will be simplified further in due course."
Imposed in June 2006 following the abduction of an Israeli soldier, the blockade of the Gaza Strip has been tightened significantly following the takeover of the territory in June 2007 by the Islamist group Hamas.
Israel loosened its grip after intense international pressure last year prompted by its deadly raid on an international aid flotilla headed for the Gaza coast.
But the Jewish state maintains an export ban on the coastal enclave, as well as a strict maritime blockade that may be tested again by another sea-borne aid convoy planned for June.