RAFAH CROSSING CLOSED FOR THE FIFTH DAY IN A ROW

        Rafah, 9 Dzulqa’idah 1434/15 September 2013 (MINA) –  Egyptian authorities have been  closing   Rafah border  crossing  for a fifth day in a row,  Palestinian Ministry of Interior – Gaza reported.

       Director of Crossing Authorities,  Maher Abu Sabha said in a statement that in case the crossing opens the ministry will inform Palestinian residents through different media sources and the ministry’s website.

       Abu Sabha indicated that the Palestinian side presented a proposal to the Egyptian counterpart to solve the problem of dozens  of passengers stranded at the Rafah crossing.

       Egyptian authorities closed the crossing last Wednesday following an explosion in the Egyptian military intelligence building in Egyptian Rafah town and kept it closed since then.

       Rafah crossingwas closed on Aug. 15 after nationwide violence and then partially reopened two days later, only to be closed again following an attack  in Sinai which killed 25 Egyptian soldiers.

       The Rafah terminal was closed earlier last week after a car bomb outside Egyptian intelligence headquarters in Sinai. Rafah crossing is the only outlet  for Palestinians in Gaza. Israel imposes a tighten blockade on Gaza by closing its  borders  with  Gaza .

        There have been frequent closures of the terminal in recent weeks due to political unrest in Egypt and violence in the Sinai peninsula, according to Alray, Palestinian media agency report quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

        The Palestinian government, legislative council, and human rights groups called for opening the crossing to enable citizens to exercise their right of travel and movement especially when thousands were stranded on both sides of the crossing.

Dozens of Palestinian Passengers held at Cairo Airport

        Egyptian authorities refuse to allow entry for dozens of Palestinians arriving from various countries en route to Gaza Strip.

        Egyptian security sources told the Palestinian Information Centre that the authorities did not show any concern with the condition of those Palestinians, some of whom have residence permits in Egypt.

        They said that the airport authorities would not allow them to enter Cairo without giving any reason.

        The sources noted that some of those Palestinian citizens had spent several days at the deportation room in the airport, adding that the trapped Palestinians were dismayed at the maltreatment. (T/P02/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)