CAIRO, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Egyptian authorities decided on Friday to open the
Rafah border crossing into the
Gaza Strip for humanitarian cases and to allow Palestinians stuck in Egypt to return to the enclave, state television reported.
The Rafah crossing links Egypt's Sinai Peninsula to the Gaza Strip, which is run by the
Hamas Islamist group. It was the first time the crossing had been opened since President Hosni Mubarak was toppled a week ago.
His administration cooperated with Israel in enforcing a blockade on the territory, building an underground barrier to try to prevent smuggling through tunnels and opening the passenger crossing only occasionally.