CAIRO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said on Wednesday he had given his security forces orders to let Palestinians in from Gaza to buy food and then go home.

"I told them: 'Let them come in to eat and buy food', then they go back, as long as they are not carrying weapons," Mubarak told reporters at a Cairo book fair.

Mubarak's remarks were the first indication from the Egyptian authorities on how they intend to handle the sudden influx of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza, which has been under Israeli blockade for most of the time since June. (Writing by Jonathan Wright)