Gaza residents said on Sunday they fear growing isolation and more hardship after an Egyptian court declared the territory's ruling militant Hamas group a terrorist organization on Saturday. Some blamed Hamas while others said Egypt is being unreasonable.

Hamas called for protests against the Egyptian government and issued angry statements but did not offer a way out of the crisis. Salah Bardaweel, a Hamas spokesman, said Egypt has become a "direct agent" of Israeli interests.

Hamas urged Saudi Arabia to press Egypt to open the Gaza-Egypt border, and Egypt's president met on Sunday with the new Saudi king.