Egypt Closes Rafah Border Crossing After 3-day Opening

Gaza, 20 Rabi’ul Awwal 1438/20 December 2016 (MINA) – Egyptian authorities closed Tuesday morning the Rafah border crossing with the blockaded Gaza Strip after it was opened for three consecutive days.

Head of the media office at the Rafah crossing Wael Abu Omar affirmed that approximately 218 passengers left the besieged coastal enclave on Monday and about 706 arrived from Egypt on the same day.

Egyptian authorities denied 62 passengers’ travel for unspecified reasons, the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reported.

Throughout the opening days, 2,363 passengers have managed to cross via the Rafah border crossing while 205 others were denied travel including 160 students.

41 Qatari trucks loaded with humanitarian aid and building material have entered into the Gaza Strip during the three-day opening.

Last Thursday, Egyptian authorities declared intention to open Rafah crossing in both directions for three days starting Saturday.  (T/P008R07/)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)