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Egypt unexpectedly allows Palestinians to head home

Egypt abruptly allowed about 100 Palestinians who had been stranded in Egypt since Hamas seized the Gaza Strip in mid-June to return home before dawn yesterday, witnesses said. Most were supporters of the Islamic militant Hamas or gunmen from other factions wanted by Israel, they said.

Israel had opposed the return of the group, and it was not immediately clear why Egypt allowed them to cross into Gaza at this time. There was no advance announcement and Hamas security officials confiscated film from photographers and cameramen alerted to the scene.

There was no comment after the release from Egypt or Hamas. The Israeli army spokesman's office has no immediate information and said it would look into the report.

It was not clear what concessions, if any, Hamas made to Egypt to arrange this release.

The Palestinians included a prominent Hamas lawmaker, Mushir al-Masri, and Hamas loyalists sent for training in Muslim countries before the militant Islamic group's Gaza takeover, witnesses said. They did not speak to journalists at the scene.

The Palestinians did not come through the official Gaza-Egypt border terminal at Rafah, but through a small border crossing Israel had carved out so armored vehicles could leave and enter Gaza.
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