Galway mother and daughter escape Gaza

A mother and daughter from Galway have been allowed to cross the border from the Gaza Strip into Egypt after getting trapped in the occupied Palestinian territory earlier this week.

Treasa Ní Cheannabháin and her 19-year-old daughter Naisrin Elsafty both entered the area illegally after militants blew up the border fence to break an Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza.

They made the trip to distribute charity money to Palestinian orphanages and hospitals, but were refused permission to cross back into Egypt this week.

Their safe passage was eventually secured last night after Irish diplomats held talks with their Egyptian counterparts in Cairo.