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| Egypt lets Gaza pilgrims return | Egypt lets Gaza pilgrims return |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Some 2,150 Palestinian pilgrims who have been stranded in Egypt for five days on their way home from Mecca have been crossing back into the Gaza Strip. | Some 2,150 Palestinian pilgrims who have been stranded in Egypt for five days on their way home from Mecca have been crossing back into the Gaza Strip. |
| Egypt had denied them permission to travel through its main border crossing with Gaza at Rafah, insisting they use an Israeli-controlled post instead. | Egypt had denied them permission to travel through its main border crossing with Gaza at Rafah, insisting they use an Israeli-controlled post instead. |
| Among the pilgrims were some prominent Hamas members, who feared they would be detained if they crossed back at Aouja. | Among the pilgrims were some prominent Hamas members, who feared they would be detained if they crossed back at Aouja. |
| Israel said it had not been informed Egypt had let the pilgrims through. | Israel said it had not been informed Egypt had let the pilgrims through. |
| Israeli officials had expressed concern that some of the pilgrims could be trying to smuggle money to Hamas. | Israeli officials had expressed concern that some of the pilgrims could be trying to smuggle money to Hamas. |
| Earlier this week, hundreds of the stranded pilgrims started fires in protest at a decision by the Egyptian authorities to move them to a temporary camp. | Earlier this week, hundreds of the stranded pilgrims started fires in protest at a decision by the Egyptian authorities to move them to a temporary camp. |
| Two elderly women died of natural causes during the stalemate, says the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Ramallah. | |
| Israel had allowed the pilgrims to leave Gaza through the Rafah border-post in early December. | Israel had allowed the pilgrims to leave Gaza through the Rafah border-post in early December. |
| The Palestinian Authority, Israel and Egypt have been trying to isolate Gaza since Hamas seized control of the territory by force in June. | The Palestinian Authority, Israel and Egypt have been trying to isolate Gaza since Hamas seized control of the territory by force in June. |
| Analysts say the dispute has been embarrassing for Egypt, which does not want to be seen to be increasing the misery of Gaza residents. | Analysts say the dispute has been embarrassing for Egypt, which does not want to be seen to be increasing the misery of Gaza residents. |