Egypt Rejects Ki-Moon’s Call To Open Rafah Crossing

New York, 5 Sya’ban 1437/13 May 2016 (MINA) – The Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shokri strongly refused the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call for permanently opening Rafah crossing.

In a press conference held in New York, Shokri said that Israel is the main party responsible for the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial goods for the people of Gaza.

Egypt will reopen Rafah crossing when acute humanitarian relief is required, he said, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had earlier urged both Israel and Egypt to ensure the free flow of goods and people in and out of Gaza, saying that he would like to see the complete opening of all Gaza crossings and an improvement of the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Egyptian authorities closed the Rafah crossing on Wednesday evening, the same day as authorities announced its opening for two days.

Egypt closed the crossing after only 443 Palestinians were allowed to enter Egypt for humanitarian purposes or were allowed admission as a result of holding Egyptian passports.

On Thursday, the Egyptian authorities reopened the Rafah crossing with the besieged Gaza Strip for the second day in a row, after an 85-day closure.

The Gaza crossings and border authority said that the border crossing was opened at 10 a.m. to allow the travel of an untold number of Palestinian passengers.
Gaza authorities indicated that over 30,000 people, including around 9,500 patients and 2,700 students, are registered and waiting to cross and are only allowed to pass through Egypt.(T/P008/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)