Hamas, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, has ruled Gazasince 2007 and has an uneasy relationship with Egypt's newarmy-backed leadership, which toppled the elected Islamistpresident, Mohamed Mursi, a Hamas ally, last month.
Thousands of Palestinians, including students and patientsseeking medical treatment, have been unable to travel to Egyptsince the Rafah border crossing was shut and hundreds wanting toreturn home have been stranded outside the Gaza Strip.