An Israeli foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Thursday Israel had "conveyed its displeasure and concern to Egypt" at Monday's opening of the Rafah border crossing, closed for most of the time since Hamas seized control of Gaza in June.

Some 150 pilgrims were allowed to cross from the Gaza Strip into Egypt in a partial easing of Gaza's isolation.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called the opening of Rafah "a confident step toward breaking the siege imposed on our people".

A Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, called for the crossing to be permanently reopened.

The result has been the near-total closure of the borders of Gaza and the isolation of the coastal area's 1.5 million people.


Agencies

Güncelleme Tarihi: 06 Aralık 2007, 18:21