BARCELONA, Nov 26: Over 1,500 people crossed the border between Gaza and Egypt on Saturday, the first day it was opened since Israel’s withdrawal, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana’s spokeswoman said.

“By the end of the day 1,587 people had crossed the border in both directions,” spokeswoman Cristina Gallach said in Barcelona, where Mr Solana was preparing for a two-day meeting of European union leaders with their partners from 10 Mediterranean-rim countries.

Under EU supervision, the transit route opens up the world to the Gaza Strip’s 1.3 million largely impoverished residents following the end of Israel’s 38-year Israeli occupation.

The opening marks the first time the Palestinians have been in control of an international border, without having to run the gauntlet of Israeli security checks. —AFP