GAZA, June 27 (RIA Novosti) - A group of about 50
Russian women protested on Saturday outside the government
building in Gaza about the difficulties in obtaining exit visas
to leave the territory.
Demonstrating with the Palestinian husbands and
children, the women demanded to be allowed to cross into Egypt,
which opened its border with Gaza on Saturday, as it does
periodically, after a 40-day closure.
The Rafah crossing is due to be open for three days,
chiefly to allow students and people needing medical attention
to cross. Around 12,000 people applied to leave, but only a
quarter are expected to get permission.
Gazan police moved the protesters from near the
residence of Ismail Haniyeh, who heads the Hamas government of
Gaza, to a sanctioned area for demonstrations. They insisted
that no force was used.
Many Palestinians have Russian spouses after studying
at universities in Russia.
Egypt is under pressure to permanently open the Rafah
checkpoint, Gaza's only border crossing not with Israel, but
has resisted, saying that the internationally recognized
government of President Mahmoud Abbas should first be returned
to the enclave.
Islamist movement Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip
in June 2007, pushing the pro-presidential Fatah movement out
after a series of clashes.
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