CAIRO: Palestinian pilgrims to Mecca were prevented from entering Egypt through Rafah for the second day running by Hamas because of a dispute over who was allowed entry. Hamas set a checkpoint some 100 meters from the Rafah gate, preventing pilgrims from passing. There were sporadic clashes and 13 people were injured Saturday as they attempted to pass through, although Hamas spokesman Taher El-Nunu denied these allegations. Egypt had announced that it had opened the crossing Saturday for a three-day period to allow the pilgrims from Gaza to pursue the Hajj in Saudi Arabia but on Saturday and Sunday no one came. The reason behind the Hamas refusal to allow the pilgrims passage centers around a dispute over Saudi visa regulations and how these visas were attained in the territories. Saudi Arabia issued visas for pilgrims who had applied through the Palestinian Authority, but did not accept the list submitted by Hamas. In Gaza, which is under Hamas rule, 1,200 pilgrims received their visas after having applied through Fatah in the West Bank. There are little over 1,900 other Gazans who were not given visas after Hamas applied for visas on their behalf. Hamas insisted that if the other pilgrims cannot go, then none would. At first Hamas claimed that the crossing was not opened by Egypt but sources in the area told Daily News Egypt that the gate was open and in addition, there were 30 buses parked on the Egyptian side of the border waiting to transport the pilgrims. On Saturday night 25 Palestinians who had been seeking treatment in Egypt returned to Gaza through the crossing. There was also the body of a deceased Palestinian which was returned to Gaza. Speaking on the television show El-Beit Beitak late on Saturday, foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki insisted that the crossing was opened and called the Hamas reaction a "disgrace. Zaki also affirmed that the Rafah gate would remain open until Monday in the hope that Hamas reverses its decision. Local coordinator for Palestinian affairs in the area near the border Abdel-Sattar El-Ghalban previously told Daily News Egypt that Palestinian anger was increasing because they felt that they were pawns in the power struggle between the two factions. "We as Palestinians should solve our own differences before expecting anything from anyone, he said.
