Grenze zwischen Aegypten und Gazastreifen II

Israel to allow Palestinians in Egypt into Gaza Strip

Israel has agreed to allow Palestinians stranded in Egypt for weeks to pass into Israel and then into the Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials said Saturday.

Palestinian Information Minister Riad Maliki said that some of the 6,000 Palestinians who have been waiting in the Egyptian border town of Rafah would be allowed to pass at the beginning of next week.

Government officials in Jerusalem confirmed the report Saturday, saying that the Palestinian would have to go through the Kerem Shalon crossing and undergo security checks before they enter the Strip.

Hamas, which wrested control of the Gaza Strip last month, denounced the deal since it allowed Israel to decide who could enter Gaza. Hamas officials and supporters would presumably not be allowed to enter through Israel.

Israel has already approved a list of 627 Palestinians who will be allowed to cross at the beginning of next week, said a Palestinian Authority official in Egypt.

(…)

Weil Hamasfunktionaere nicht ungehindert via Israel einreisen koennen (sondern - sofern sie auf der Liste der gesuchten Terroristen stehen - tatsaechlich mit Verhaftung rechnen muessen), will Hamas auch die Rueckkehr der anderen Palaestinenser via Israel verbieten. Mir scheint, wir haben es mit einer Art von Geiselnahme zu tun.

Hamas rejects plan for return of stranded Palestinians as Israeli forces delay convoy

Israeli authorities take initial steps to move first transport of stranded Palestinians from Rafah to Erez

(…)

The names of the Palestinians allowed to cross have been scrutinised by Israeli authorities, leading Hamas to reject the idea of the return via any crossing other than Rafah crossing, ostensibly controlled by the EU.

(…)