Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 18-05-2018
Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi has announced the Rafah border crossing with Gaza will be opened for the entire Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the longest length of time since 2013.
Sissi made the announcement on Twitter late on Thursday.
El-Sissi wrote on his official Twitter account that the opening would “alleviate the burdens of the brothers in the Gaza Strip.”
Associated Press (AP) reports the announcement comes just days after Israeli forces shot and killed more than 60 Palestinians and injured more than 2,700 during mass protests along the Gaza border. The high number of wounded has overwhelmed the Gaza health system.
The crossing has been open since Saturday so el-Sissi’s announcement is technically an extension of the opening and Egyptian authorities say 510 people crossed on Wednesday, the majority coming from Gaza into Egypt.
On Thursday, 541 people crossed from Egypt into Gaza along with dozens of trucks carrying cement, steel, power engines and medical and food aid from the Red Crescent.
The Rafah crossing is Gaza’s main gate to the outside world but has only had sporadic openings since the 2013 ouster of Egypt’s elected President Mohammed Morsi, a high-ranking member of The Muslim Brotherhood.
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