EGYPT RE-CLOSES RAFAH CROSSING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Gaza, 20 Jumadal Awwal 1436/11 March 2015 (MINA) – The Egyptian authorities closed the Rafah border crossing after opening for two days only on Monday and Tuesday.

The crossing was opened after being closed for more than 45 consecutive days, causing tremendous suffering to more than 60,000 Palestinians in desperate need for travel most of them are students, people with residencies in other countries, and many humanitarian cases like seriously sick Palestinians, Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Director General of Gaza border crossings, Maher Abu Sabha, said that only 900 passengers managed to travel through Rafah crossing during these two days before the Egyptian authorities re-closed it until further notice.

Abu Sabha said in a statement on Tuesday: “After opening Rafah crossing for two days, only 12 buses managed to travel and 900 passengers among them are 200 recorded on the coordination lists.” The coordination lists are received from the Egyptian authorities binding the Palestinian authorities to transfer those enlisted in them.

He clarified that the Egyptian authorities closed the crossing on Tuesday evening until further notice, and expressed hope that it will be re-opened soon.

Abu Sabha pointed out that 539 passengers managed to leave the Gaza Strip on Tuesday through Rafah crossing and 556 Palestinians were in Egypt and returned to the Strip.

He stressed that the crossing authority is adherent to the numbers and categories registered in the lists and those who were returned didn’t have travel confirmations. (T/P006/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)