Gazans rush to cross border during brief opening

GAZA, Sep 22 (Reuters) Hundreds of Palestinians jostled to get through the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt today as it reopened briefly for the first time in weeks under an agreement with the Israelis.

The Rafah crossing, Gaza's main gateway to the outside world, has been shut for most of the time since Israel launched an offensive in late June to try to recover a soldier who was captured by militants from the territory.

Palestinians technically control the crossing but its operations can be blocked by Israel. An Israeli army spokeswoman said Rafah would open for 48 hours for humanitarian cases.

Hundreds of travellers packed into buses and clambered on to their roofs to get across the border. Students studying abroad and Gazans who live abroad were also allowed out along with medical patients.

Palestinian officials said some 4,000 people were also waiting to cross from the Egyptian side. Rafah was last opened in mid-August.

Gunfire between militants and members of President Mahmoud Abbas's guard caused brief panic at Rafah, but nobody was hurt.

Israel launched an offensive in the Gaza Strip following the capture of the soldier in a cross-border raid on June 25. Nearly 220 Palestinians have been killed, about half of them civilians.

REUTERS DKA KN1555