Palestinians head to Israel border on way to Gaza

ISMAILIA, Egypt, July 29 (Reuters) About 100 Palestinians stranded in Egypt since mid-June headed to the Israeli border today under a deal allowing them to return to Hamas-held Gaza through the Jewish state, a Palestinian official said.

The Palestinians were the first of more than 600 stranded Gazans who are expected to return home today and tomorrow A Palestinian embassy official, Hani al-Jabour, told reporters that around 627 Palestinians would be allowed to cross into Gaza through Israel under a deal agreed yesterday.

He said the Palestinians chosen had been chosen on a first-come-first-served basis and that none were wanted by Israel.

The Egyptian Red Crescent estimates that roughly 5,000 Palestinians have been stranded in dusty Egyptian towns in north Sinai since Hamas Islamists seized control of the Gaza Strip on June 14 and the main border crossings were closed.

Palestinian officials estimate the number of stranded Gazans at between 6,000 and 7,000.

Palestinian officials said on Saturday thousands of stranded Palestinians would ultimately be able to return to Gaza under the deal. Jabour made no mention of when the remaining thousands would be allowed to cross, but said talks were underway to facilitate further crossings.

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has been closed since Hamas's takeover. Hamas has rejected proposals to allow the stranded Gazans to return through other crossings controlled by Israel.

REUTERS SKB PM1348