The Hamas leadership in Gaza says it wants a long-term border agreement with Egypt so that people can travel from the Palestinian territory to buy essential goods. Hamas made its comments after tens of thousands of Palestinians crossed the border between Gaza and Egypt through holes in a security barrier made by militants using explosives.
Egypt wants to close the border once the Palestinians have returned but says that it will not force Palestinians to go back.
Last week Israel tightened its blockade of Gaza in response to continued Palestinian rocket-fire into Israeli territory.
