Palestinians refused entry to Gaza

JERUSALEM, July 2 (UPI) -- Egypt and Jordan are refusing to allow two Palestinian deportees to return to the Gaza Strip, the Ma'an News Agency reported.

According to the report published Wednesday, the two were among a group of 26 Palestinians deported to Gaza in 2002, in a deal struck with Israel to break a five week standoff when Palestinian gunmen holed up inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

The report said the two, identified as Nadir Abdul Aziz and Issa Abu Aahour, left Gaza via the Rafah crossing last Tuesday using Jordanian passports and flew to Jordan to be with their wives and children.

The report said the men were denied entry into Jordan and Egyptian authorities refused to allow them to return to Gaza.

The two reportedly are being detained at Jordan's Queen Alia International Airport and have appealed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to intervene.

In an attempt to end a five week siege on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in 2002, Israel agreed to release 123 Palestinian gunmen holed up in the church on the condition 13 described as having "blood on their hands," by Israel were deported, and 26 were barred from returning to the West Bank and were deported to Gaza.