A Palestinian official said June 8 that Hamas had reopened the Gaza Strip’s chief gateway to the world after reaching an agreement with neighboring Egypt.

Egypt’s new military rulers permanently opened the Rafah terminal late last week, ending a four-year blockade of Gaza imposed by ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in cooperation with Israel.

But Hamas abruptly shut down the terminal on June 5, citing repeated delays at the crossing. Egypt had also closed the passage a day earlier.

Terminal director Ayoub Abu Shaer said June 8 that the crossing was reopened after Hamas reached an unspecified agreement with Egypt.

Abu Shaer said priority for passage was to be given to medical cases and to people who were unable to leave Gaza late last week. — ap