Thursday, June 9, 2011

Rafah crossing reopened to Palestinians



Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at the Rafah border crossing, June 5, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183817.html

The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip has been reopened after a four-day closure, Hamas officials announce.

The gateway, which is the only point of access to the outside world for Palestinians living in Gaza, was reopened on Wednesday after the Egyptian and Hamas officials resolved their differences, Hamas manager of the border crossing, Ayub Abu Shaar said without referring to the cause of dispute between the two sides.

The Egyptian side halted operations on their side of the border on June fourth amid disagreements with Hamas officials. Cairo had earlier announced that the crossing would be reopened permanently.

"The crossing is operating normally today for both departures and arrivals," Ayoub Abu Shaar said.

The border crossing is an essential entry and exit point for the 1.6 million Palestinians living in Gaza, which has been under a crippling Israeli blockade that restricts the movement of both people and goods, for almost four years.

Enforcing the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, the regime of the ousted, US-backed ruler, Hosni Mubarak, had refused to open the Rafah crossing since June 2007 despite its full sovereignty over the area.

The former Egyptian regime was under pressure from the public and some Arab countries for refusing to open the crossing even during the Israeli deadly offensive into Gaza in 2008, in which nearly 1,400 people lost their lives.

Gazans have since faced harsh conditions with minimal supply of food, water, fuel, and electricity.

The reopening of Rafah has angered the Israeli regime, which had earlier expressed its concerns about Egypt's plans to reopen the crossing.

The UN has called the Israeli siege illegal and repeatedly demanded it being lifted.

The new Egyptian government has been keen to review its policy on Gaza since Mubarak was overthrown in February.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks for commenting on this post. Please consider sharing it on Facebook or Twitter for a wider discussion.

Russian / Ukraine War - (Mar 08th, 2024)

How the Ukraine War Changed the World - (Mar 01st, 2024)

Redacted - Egypt's betrayal of Palestine - Vanessa Beeley

CrossTalk | Magical thinking - (Feb 28th, 2024)

Hillary Clinton Interrupted & Called Out in Berlin

We don’t want war with Israel, but if they impose it on us, we are ready – Hezbollah

ICJ delivers ruling in favour of South Africa

ICJ ruling | Court stops short of ordering Gaza ceasefire, demands that Israel prevent genocide

South Africa's Closing Argument Against Israel for Genocide at the ICJ

Wider Middle East war. US, UK strike Yemen

U.S., UK Start Another Unwinnable War In Yemen

Geopolitical Storm Brewing from Palestine to Ukraine

How the US Global Order is Challenged - With Pepe Escobar (Nov 20, 2023)

Shahid Bolsen - Message to the Israeli people

Roger Waters - To Whom It May Concern: Please Stop.

US policy slowing down China's economy w/ Jeffrey Sachs

Max Blumenthal s destroys RFKJr's outrageous Israelí Propaganda

Totalitarianism, Censorship and Syria with Peter Lavelle, Vanessa Beeley & Kevork Almassian

Putin shows treaty on Ukraine’s neutrality, signed by Kiev but dumped under Western pressure

Assad's speech at the Arab League Summit - what it means for the future of the region

Assad returns to Arab League

HUGE China brokered deal, Iran & Saudi Arabia restore diplomatic ties

Nord Stream pipeline & sabotaging peace w/Jeffrey Sachs

The Tragedy of Ukraine

Historical Events that Led to the Start of the Ukraine Conflict

Your Wars Will Destroy the Planet - Roger Waters

Healthy Athletes suffer Heart Problems After Getting the Jab