GAZA, Aug. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian sources said Monday that Palestinians have made a proposal to the Israeli army to reopen the Rafah terminal in the southern Gaza Strip.

    The proposal was aimed at ending the hardship of thousands of stranded Palestinians in the terminal, shut down by Israel citing security reasons.

    The sources said the Palestinians also suggested that passengers could be allowed access into the strip via the Gaza International Airport that has been closed by the Israeli army for the past two years.

    The proposal, meanwhile, included transporting all electronic equipment used by the Israeli army for security checks to the airport.

    According to the sources, the Israeli authorities are stillmulling this proposal.

    Israel has shut down Rafah terminal for over two weeks citing security reasons, forcing about 4,000 Palestinians stranded there, most of whom women, children and patients seeking treatment. The Rafah terminal was the only passage for Palestinians in and out of the Gaza Strip to Egypt.

    Palestinian security officials said the stranded Palestinians had appealed to several human rights organizations to press Israel to allow them into the Gaza Strip after the two-week suffering at the terminal.

    The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) also issues several statements, calling upon the international human rights organizations and the international community to help end the hardship. Enditem