RAFAH, Gaza Strip, November 26, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - The Rafah border terminal between the Gaza Strip and Egypt opened to a flood of excited Palestinians on Saturday, November 26, giving them a gate to the outside world for the first time in almost three months.

At least 2,000 Palestinians -- some leaving the tiny strip of territory for the first time in their lives -- queued for the opening of the EU-supervised crossing, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"I have been waiting for this moment for years," grinned 54-year-old Ali Shurab, a red-and-white keffiyeh headdress slung around his shoulders.

"I am really happy to be here today because I was banned by the Israelis from crossing for 25 years for 'security' reasons."

Rafah opens up the world to the Gaza Strip's 1.3 million largely impoverished residents after fears the territory would be transformed into a "giant prison" following the end of Israel's 38-year occupation.

Israel finally left the Gaza Strip in mid-September but since then has kept the gates shut to the territory, which has no seaport and a mothballed international airport that was bombarded by Israeli war planes four years ago.

Efforts to negotiate an agreement with Israel for a reopening foundered until the personal intervention of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who managed to secure a deal during a visit to the region on November 15.

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

The crossing will initially operate for four hours a day. It will run under Palestinian and Egyptian management and supervised by 70 European Union observers.

"It is a dream come true for us to be here to celebrate the reopening of the Rafah terminal as a free crossing between us and our brothers in Egypt," Palestinian leader Mahmmoud Abbas said at an official opening on Friday, November 25.

Just before the opening, EU Middle East envoy Marc Otte arrived at the terminal with General Osama Al-Assar, head of security at the crossing.

"We are here as partners, as friends and we respect your sovereignty," Otte said.

Outside the tall wrought-iron gate at the entrance to the terminal compound, the teeming masses were pushing and shoving on Saturday to hand in their passports at a small bullet-ridden booth before waiting their turn to enter.

Men, women and children were squatting on the dusty floor amid mountains of luggage, many smoking endless cigarettes and waiting for border officials to open the gates.

Scores of yellow taxis, their luggage racks piled high with battered suitcases, plastic bags and bedding, were parked close by, waiting to ferry the travelers and their belongings into the sprawling terminal compound.

First to enter was Naim al-Baaya, a 53-year-old wheelchair-bound mother from the Jabaliya refugee camp, who said: "We have been here since the early morning -- we have been planning this trip for two weeks."

Mohammed Al-Arubi, 26, said he was taking his mother to hospital.

"I feel amazing. It will be the first time I ever left Gaza," he said, dressed impeccably in a shirt and red tie to mark the occasion.