KHANYOUNIS, January 24, 2007 (WAFA) - Spokesperson of Crossings and the Presidential Guard, Wael Dahab, said Wednesday that there still are some 600 Palestinians stranded at the Egyptian side of the Rafah Crossing.

Mr. Dahab told WAFA that these citizens could not enter the Gaza Strip when the Crossing was opened during the last couple of days because of the jam the Crossing witnessed.

He added the Palestinian side was surprised today morning by the decision of the Israeli side to block the Crossing despite a request by the General Directorate of Crossings to the European Mission in the Crossing to extend the working hours for four more hours so as to enable the stranded citizens from entering the Strip.

Dahab affirmed that the General Directorate of Crossings is exerting efforts to reopen the only window of the Gaza Strip to the outside world.

A.D (16:10 P) (14:10 GMT)