GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Hundreds of terrified Gazans fleeing Hamas rule were trapped at a main crossing with Israel today, hoping to gain permission to pass through Israeli territory to sanctuary in the West Bank.

Fearing death or persecution, Gazans flocked to the Erez passage after Hamas militants wrested control of the coastal strip from Fatah security forces last week. Israel, which has no interest in letting masses of Gazans pass through its territory and possibly destabilize the quieter West Bank, has refused to let most of them in, saying their lives were not in danger.

By today, about 600 people were holed up in the long, concrete tunnel that leads to the Israeli side of the crossing. Around 100 people belonged to Fatah security forces, but the rest were civilians, seeking a better life in the West Bank.

Women, children and young men sat between two high concrete walls about 10 yards apart, looking tired and sweaty. Suitcases and trash were strewn on the ground. Some families sat on mats, others on bare concrete. A breeze barely stirred between the walls, and the tunnel, which has no toilets, reeked of urine and sweat.

On Monday, gunmen allied with Hamas disguised themselves as fleeing civilians and hurled hand grenades at Israeli soldiers and Palestinians at Erez, killing a relative of a slain Fatah warlord, and injuring 15 other Palestinians.

In a move to maintain order, Israeli tanks and armored vehicles rolled up to the Palestinian side of Erez today, chasing away cars parked next to the tunnel, including vehicles belonging to journalists. One tank parked at the crossing entrance, blocking anyone from entering or leaving the tunnel. Army bulldozers closed the road leading to the terminal with sand, witnesses said.

Two injured men with blood-soaked bandages were among those sleeping on the bare concrete, and one appeared to have been shot.

"We are imprisoned between two walls and they are firing at us from behind," a bearded man in the Erez tunnel told AP Television News. "We're calling on ... all the (Palestinian) authorities to protect these people and children."