Egypt extends Gaza border crossing hours

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RAFAH, Gaza, July 28 (UPI) -- Egypt has agreed to extend the hours of a border crossing into Gaza, the head of the Hamas government in Gaza said.

Ismail Haniyeh told the Gaza newspaper Palestine Saturday Egypt's new president, Mohamed Morsi, agreed to keep the Rafah border crossing open 12 hours a day and also increase staffing on the Egyptian side to help speed up the movement of visitors.

Palestine said Morsi also agreed to increase the volume of truck imports of fuel for electricity generation into Gaza and make plans for construction of a natural-gas pipeline.

The Egypt Independent said Haniyeh, who met with Morsi Thursday, said in a written statement that Gaza had pledged to respect Egypt's border and sovereignty, particularly in the Sinai, and was open to re-establishing an Egyptian consulate in Gaza.