About 400 Palestinians, the last of thousands seeking to return home after being stranded in Egypt, crossed back into Gaza on Thursday, an Egyptian security source said. More than 6,000 Palestinians had been stuck in Egypt after Israel closed the main Rafah crossing point to Gaza in June.
Many had been living in concrete shelters or low-budget hotels in northern Sinai as their money dwindled. The last batch of about 400 crossed back into Gaza through the Awja border crossing south of Rafah, more than a week after Egypt began moving them out of Sinai, the source said.
Clashes broke out last month between Egyptian police and Palestinians detained at El Arish airport in northern Sinai. The Palestinians had tried to break free after complaining of dwindling funds and lack of food and medical supplies. Egypt sent hundreds of additional police to reinforce its border last month in case Palestinian militants tried to storm it.
Palestinian demonstrators in El Arish had demanded it reopen. About 30 Palestinians detained at El Arish airport remain in Egypt and refuse to return, fearing they would be arrested while on their way through Israel, the source said.