Gaza - Egypt opened its border with Gaza Strip on Saturday to allow the passage of Palestinians who want to perform minor pilgrimages to Mecca (Omra), stranded people and patients, Palestinian security sources said.

The Hamas-controlled interior ministry in Gaza said the Rafah border crossing would remain partially open until late Sunday. Palestinians stranded at the Egyptian side would also be able to cross to Gaza.

Except for occasional exceptions for humanitarian reasons, Egypt has kept the Rafah crossing closed since Hamas took over control of the Gaza Strip by force last year.

According to Hamas interior ministry, lists of travellers planning to cross into Egypt have been prepared to channel the border crossings also monitored strictly by Egypt.

About 600 people registered for the Omra pilgrimage would be allowed to cross into Egypt today along patients and the holders of Arab and foreign passports. On Sunday, the crossing would be open for students travelling into Egypt.

According to a U. S.-brokered protocol, the Rafah crossing can not work without the presence of security forces of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and European Union monitors.

The pro-Abbas forces lost control of the Gaza Strip for Hamas last year and the EU, which doesn't recognize Hamas, withdrew its monitors from Rafah. Hamas also doesn't recognize the 2005 international protocol on Rafah. (dpa)