Sources: Rafah crossing to open next week

[oberliner]

Al-Arish – Ma'an – Authorities will open the Rafah border crossing next Monday to allow for humanitarian cases to enter or leave the Gaza Strip, Ma'an has learned. It will remain open through next Wednesday.

Egyptian sources said coordination between the de facto government in Gaza and Cairo resulted in a list of names both sides agreed could be permitted to cross the border, namely patients, students and holders of foreign passports.

"Egypt's hesitancy to open the crossing is due to the crisis between Hamas and Cairo following the death of Egyptian soldier Ahmad Sha'ban," one source told Ma'an, referring to protest at the border last month.

Egypt, along with Israel, sealed its border with Gaza in 2007 following Hamas' takeover of the coastal enclave. Cairo rarely opens the Rafah crossing, which is the only means of entering or exiting Gaza for most Palestinians.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=263365

[shergald]

1. Gee, thanks Egypt.

In the meantime, can we expect you to continue building the Iron Wall to stifle tunneling which heretofore has permitted additional foodstuffs to enter Gaza and keep the malnutrition rates among Palestinian children down.

Well, I guess through your assistance of Israel in its collective punishment, we will soon see those malnutrition rates go up, disease increase for lack of clean water and medicines, increased deaths among medical patients needing outside care, and so on.

Thanks, Egypt.