STRANDED PALESTINIANS CALL FOR OPENING RAFAH CROSSING

Rafah, 17 Dzulhijjah 1436/30 September 2015 (MINA) – Palestinians stranded in a number of countries, including Egypt, have called on Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah border crossing and to allow their return to Gaza.

The stranded Palestinians, including patients and students, issued a statement appealing to the Egyptian president and head of his General Intelligence to help them return to their families in Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing especially that “the majority of them have run out of money,” The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Wednesday (30/9).

“We were obliged to spend Eid al-Adha away from our families as we have been stranded at the Egyptian side of the crossing for more than two months,” a statement released on the stranded Palestinians’ behalf said.

“We are surprised and concerned at the silence of the Palestinian ambassador in Egypt towards our suffering,” the statement reads.

The Palestinians called on the concerned authorities to immediately intervene for the opening of Rafah crossing.

Since the beginning of 2015, the Rafah crossing has been closed for 251 days while it was opened partially only for 19 days. Thus, thousands of Gazans were deprived of their right to travel for education or medical treatment abroad.(T/P008/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)