RAFAH CROSSING OPENS FOR GAZA HAJJ PILGRIMS
Gaza City, 18 Dzulhijjah 1434/24 October 2013 (MINA) – The Rafah crossing operated Wednesday to allow humanitarian cases and Hajj pilgrims to cross into Gaza, Palestinian officials said.
Around 306 travelers used the crossing on Sunday and over 400 Hajj pilgrims are expected to cross into Gaza on Monday, officials said.
Director General of Border Crossings Maher Abu Sabha told ALRAY that “the crossing is scheduled to open partially for six days from 09:00 AM to 02:00 PM as from Sunday and up to Friday,”
There have been frequent closures of the Rafah 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).
After a July coup deposing president Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s army has repeatedly closed the border crossing and destroyed hundreds of tunnels that Gazans used for years.
The Rafah crossing has been the principal connection between Gaza’s 1.8 million residents and the outside world since the imposition of an economic blockade by Israel beginning in 2007.
Ministry of Interior said Saturday that “The Egyptian side briefed us will re-open the Rafah border crossing for six days as from Sunday,”
Director General of Border Crossings Maher Abu Sabha said “the crossing is scheduled to open partially for six days from 09:00 AM to 02:00 PM as from Sunday and up to Friday,”
Abu Sabha announced that registration for travel will be open to owners of foreign permits and holders of foreign passports on Sunday at the Public Administration of Abu Khadra Compound in Gaza City.
Egyptian authorities had closed the Rafah crossing Sunday evening after a 5-day-long exceptional opening for humanitarian cases of students, patients and residencies owners.
It’s noteworthy that Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh called Saturday morning on the Egyptian side to open the crossing in both directions.
(T/P02/E1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
