Palestinian Muslim pilgrims stranded in Egypt started a hunger strike on Wednesday after a second woman died while waiting to return to their Gaza homes.
According to Palestinian medical sources, the pilgrim Mariam Adwan died at the Egyptian city of al-Arish, a few tens of kilometers away from Gaza, while waiting at a makeshift camp, due to the cold weather.
Two days ago, a woman died during scramble between about 2,200 pilgrims and Egyptian security forces.
Egypt allowed the Hamas-sponsored Hajj pilgrims to enter its territories after performing the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. However, Egyptian authorities requested them to go home via Israeli-run crossings though they have departed via the Egyptian border with Gaza Strip at Rafah.
Maan news, a local Palestinian agency, reported that the stranded pilgrims have tried to walk to Rafah crossing but the Egyptian police stopped them.
A number of Hamas members and leaders are among the stranded pilgrims and they fear from being arrested if they returned through the Israeli-controlled crossing points.
<i>Source:Xinhua</i>
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