Guernsey Press

Egypt to open Gaza border crossing for Ramadan

The Rafah crossing is Gaza’s main gate to the outside world.

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Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said he has ordered the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza for the entire Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the longest length of time since 2013.

Mr el-Sissi wrote on his official Twitter account late on Thursday that the opening would “alleviate the burdens of the brothers in the Gaza Strip”.

The announcement comes just days after Israeli forces shot and killed 59 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.

Palestinian protesters carry a wounded woman during a protest at the Gaza Strip’s border with Israel (Khalil Hamra/AP)
Palestinian protesters carry a wounded woman during a protest at the Gaza Strip’s border with Israel (Khalil Hamra/AP)

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 officials said.

In 2007, Hamas wrested control of Gaza by force, provoking the Israeli-Egyptian blockade that severely restricted the movement of most of Gaza’s two million inhabitants.

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 Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, a high-ranking member of Hamas’ parent group The Muslim Brotherhood.

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