Sinai kidnapping prompts border closure

Stuck at the Gaza border.

Many are waiting to leave the Palestinian enclave after Egyptian police blocked the crossing Friday.

The closed gates are a protest against the kidnapping of seven Egyptian security forces in Sinai.

The closure is aimed at the Egyptian government, but caught in the middle are hundreds of travellers stranded on both sides.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MUHIB OBAID, PALESTINIAN RESIDENT IN EGYPT, SAYING:

"I came for 24 hours, I arrived yesterday in order to travel today, I have my own business there but unfortunately the crossing is closed."

Islamist gunmen kidnapped the security forces Thursday and in exchange are demanding the release of militants imprisoned in Egypt.

Hardline Islamist groups have exploited the lack of security in Sinai to launch attacks on Israeli and Egyptian targets.