The Israeli authorities say they must pass through the Israeli border crossing at Rafah to check whether they are carrying arms or money for Hamas, which seized control of the Gaza Strip in June.

However, some of the Palestinians left the Gaza Strip via an Egyptian border crossing; they say they should not have to be subjected to an Israeli security check on their reutrn.

The deadlock led to a heated debate in the Egyptian parliament on Sunday. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says the issue should be solved through quiet diplomacy.

By Copyright Radio Netherlands 2007