Palestinians reach Israel border on way to Gaza

ISMAILIA, Egypt, July 29 (Reuters) Around 100 Palestinians stranded in Egypt since mid-June today crossed the border into Israel under a deal allowing them to return to Hamas-held Gaza through the Jewish state, an Egyptian border official said.

''I am happy to return to Gaza,'' one of the returnees, who gave his name as Abu Ziad, told Reuters by telephone before he crossed.

''My money ran out a while ago and I was about to resort to sleeping on the street.'' The Palestinians were the first of more than 600 stranded Gazans who are expected to return n the coming days. A Palestinian embassy official, Hani al-Jabour, told reporters that around 627 Palestinians would be allowed to cross today and tomorrow into Gaza via Israel under a deal agreed yesterday.

He said the Palestinians selected had been chosen on a first-come, first-served basis and 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 the border's closure June 9, shortly before Hamas Islamists seized control of the Gaza Strip.

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

Palestinian officials yesteray said that thousands of stranded Palestinians ultimately would be able to return to Gaza under the deal. Jabour made no mention of when the others would be allowed to cross, but said talks were under way.

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

Although Palestinian and Egyptian officials technically control the Rafah crossing, it can be blocked by Israel.

Egyptian officials say that most of those stranded are Gazans who sought medical treatment abroad, although some were holidaymakers.

Two weeks ago, Egypt opened shelters in Sinai to house hundreds of the stranded Palestinians, many of whom have run out of money, for fear that some could resort to sleeping on the streets.

Reuters SM DB1909