Egypt releases 14 Palestinians

Egypt released 14 Palestinians from its prisons for the first time since former President Hosni Mubarak stepped down this month, a Palestinian spokesperson said Saturday.

Imad Al-Sayed of the gathering of families of Palestinians detained in Egypt said that they are waiting the 14 to arrive in the Gaza Strip. He added that after the release of the 14, the number of Palestinians jailed in Egypt has dropped to 31.

During the unrest in Egypt, eight Palestinians managed to escape their prisons in Egypt and made their way to Gaza through underground tunnels on Gaza-Egypt borders.

Meanwhile, Egypt opened Rafah crossing point until a further notice to allow Palestinians stuck in Egypt to return home. The crossing is only operating in one direction.

Egypt sealed off the only crossing point for Gazans when the revolt started in January.

Source: Xinhua