Egypt on Sunday reopened the Rafah crossing on its border with the Gaza Strip on both directions to allow pilgrims and for special case to travel to and from the blockaded enclave, a Palestinian official said.
Maher Abu Sabha, the head of Gaza's crossing and border authority, told Anadolu Agency that the crossing would continue to be open for four days.
He said the first two days would be dedicated for the travel of pilgrims, while Tuesday and Wednesday would be for patients and others who have residence permits outside Gaza.
Abu Sabha expressed hopes that Egypt would keep the crossing open, especially now that the Palestinians have a national unity government.
Egypt has tightened its grip on the border with Gaza since last July's ouster of Mohamed Morsi – the country's first freely elected president – by the army.
Egyptian authorities accuse Hamas, which controlled the Strip as of 2007 and until the formation of the new government last month, of interfering in Egypt's domestic affairs and carrying out attacks inside the country, charges that Hamas has repeatedly denied.
The crossing closure has salted the injuries of roughly 1.8 million people living in Gaza, which has been under a watertight Israeli siege since 2006.
By Ola Attalah
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
