Stranded Hamas members enter Gaza

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Egypt has allowed 85 Palestinians to return to Gaza after being stranded for more than three months.

Most are Hamas supporters and MPs. The militant group said it had reached a deal with Egypt on their return.

They returned via the Rafah crossing point, which Egypt closed when Hamas seized control of Gaza in mid-June - stranding thousands of Palestinians.

Several hundred had already returned after Israel allowed them to travel through its territory.

"Numerous people who came back belong to Hamas," Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nunu told the AFP news agency.

The Rafah crossing point is the only way into Gaza that does not involve travelling through Israeli territory.

According to Hamas, those who returned on Saturday had avoided travelling through Israel because they feared arrest.

"Measures were taken to arrest these people if they passed through" Israeli territory, Mr Nunu said.