The Egyptian-Palestinian border crossing of Rafah opens for the second day on a raw early Sunday in both directions to allow for the passage of urgent humanitarian cases, sick people and permit holders, Youm7 reported.
A total of 1,534 passengers crossed the border in the first day; 795 travelers crossed into the Egyptian side, while 839 others entered into the Palestinian territories on Saturday.
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has ordered to open the crossing for two days from both directions, Egyptian state-owned news agency MENA reported on Thursday. The crossing will reopen on Oct. 19-22.
The crossing was only opened exceptionally a few times since a major militant attack in North Sinai’s Sheikh Zewuid that killed some 27 military personnel in October 2014. The Egyptian authorities have said in a number of occasions that Hamas is implicated in the attacks.
The Gaza Strip has six border crossings with Israel and only Rafah crossing was the only entrance gate for the Palestinians in the strip since Israel has imposed blockade on the strip in 2007. So many of Palestinians be stranded in Egyptian airports and other Palestinian patients could be stranded in Gaza waiting for the border reopening for receiving medical care in the Egyptian hospitals.
