Israel irate about Palestinian pilgrims

JERUSALEM, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Israel criticized Egypt Wednesday for allowing Palestinians to return from Mecca to Gaza at the Rafah Crossing, which is controlled by Hamas.

"This is against all agreements," a senior Israeli military official told The Jerusalem Post. The official said Cairo's decision to open the Rafah Crossing to the pilgrims would damage Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and undermine his government in Ramallah on the West Bank.

Hundreds of Palestinians who made the religious pilgrimage to Mecca last month had been stuck in Egypt for days after leaving Saudi Arabia. The Egyptian government initially said they would have to enter Gaza at an Israeli-controlled border crossing but the Palestinians refused and threatened a hunger strike, the Post said.

Egypt relented and as many as 2,152 Palestinians were expected to pass through the Rafah Crossing.

Israeli officials claimed at least two dozen senior Hamas members were thought to be carrying tens of millions of dollars to their leadership and that others were believed to have received military training in Iran.