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Egypt permanently reopened its border crossing into Gaza on Saturday, opening the door for Palestinians to the outside world and raising fears among Israelis of an increase in militant attacks.
Hundreds were expected Saturday to pass through the Rafah border, which had been blockaded by Egypt and Israel after Hamas, an Islamic militant group, took control of Gaza in June 2007. The closure of the border was an attempt by both countries to cut off Hamas, though it simultaneously created an economic hardship in Gaza by limiting shipments of goods in and out of the country.
Egypt's government opted to reopen the border to offer relief to the people of Gaza, said Ambassador Menha Bakhoum of Egypt's foreign ministry.
But Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly criticized the decision, saying in media reports that Hamas was using the open border to bring in rockets.
The Rafah crossing opened sporadically between June and January, when Egypt ordered it opened to those in need of medical care. Among those people allowed to cross were those injured during an Israeli assault aboard a flotilla of ships headed to Gaza.
After Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was forced from office, the interim government promised to reopen the border.
Travel from Gaza into Israel through Erez Crossing is extremely limited.
CNN
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