AMBER WOLF | staff writer
WITH AP SOURCES

Thousands cross from Gaza to Egypt when the dividing wall was brought down.

After 41 years of division, the wall between the Gaza Strip and Egypt was knocked down, allowing hundreds of Palestinians to seek freedom and cross the border into Egypt.

“Everyone is rushing into Egypt before they seal it off,” Palestinian Mohammed Abu Amra said.

The wall was preventing Palestinians from getting much needed supplies cut off by the Israeli government to the region.

When the border wall between Egypt and Gaza came down, people from both sides freely crossed between the two regions in order to engage in trade.

Many crossed the border to buy fuel, food, livestock, medicine and electronic equipment they cannot obtain in Gaza due to Israeli blockades. Fearing that Gaza’s fuel would run out, many Palestinians filled gerricans with gasoline.

A Gaza Research center estimated that Gaza citizens spent nearly $220 million in the first three days alone.

Others just wanted to get out of Gaza.

``We just want freedom,’’Adel Tildani said as he brought his mother-in-law from Egypt into Gaza to meet grandchildren she had never seen before. ``I don’t need to buy anything. Freedom is more important.’’

Egyptian citizens bought products from the artisans in Gaza as well.

There is speculation that part of the wall was brought down by explosions set off by Hamas forces.

While it is not certain that Hamas was directly involved in the explosions. Hamas did not try to stop Palestinians from destroying the wall.

Israel’s deputy defense minister, Matan Vilnai, said that the country wanted to relinquish control, but it is not clear whether he was expressing the view of the Israeli government, or merely testing international receptiveness to such an idea.

There was talk that many of the Israeli officials had met privately to discuss the Gaza-Egypt border.

The Palestinian militants said the wall violation was a positive development. It would help in the efforts to alleviate the demands on Israel to provide for Gaza’s basic needs and could help with disconnecting from the region.

Hamas has requested Fatah help with new arrangements for crossing into Gaza.

The Egyptian government said they had no choice but to let in the distraught Palestinians.

Egyptian police and guards are trying to control the amount of people crossing the border.