RAFAH CROSSING RE-CLOSED INDEFINITELY

Rafah,  4 Ramadan 1436/21 June 2015 (MINA) – Egyptian authorities re-closed on Friday the Rafah border crossing with Gaza Strip until further notice after opening it for a week.

Head of Border Crossings Authority in Gaza Maher Abu Sabha said that Rafah crossing has been closed Friday until further notice after being opened for a whole week.

He expressed hope that Egypt allows its opening next week especially that 12,000 passengers are still in urgent need to travel. The Palestinian information center quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Rafah crossing should be opened around the clock as it is the only gateway to the outside world for more than 1.8 million persons in Gaza, he said.

450 Palestinians managed on Friday to leave the Strip, while 88 passengers were allowed access into it, he clarified.

During the past week, 3,819 Palestinians left Gaza to Egypt through Rafah, and more than a thousand others entered. In addition, 155 passengers were prevented from traveling.

Egypt has temporarily opened the Rafah crossing last Saturday after being closed for more than three months.

The Egyptian authorities have been closing Rafah crossing since October, 2013. It was partially opened for few days for the travel of few sick people, students, and the humanitarian cases.

One hundred thousands of Palestinians mostly patients and students; however, are waiting for the opening of Rafah crossing in order to be able to travel. (T/Imt/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)