Egypt partially opens Rafah border for pilgrims returning to Gaza

Egyptian authorities has opened early Thursday the Rafah border crossing with Gaza to allow the remaining Palestinian Muslim pilgrims to return to their homeland from Saudi Arabia, MENA reported.

The border was opened from 7 to 10 October for the same reason, yet authorities reopened it to allow the stranded pilgrims to return to Gaza.

The border crossing will remain open for one day in one direction.

Egyptian authorities have, for the most part, kept the Rafah crossing closed since October 2014, following attacks by Islamist militants in Egypt’s governorate of North Sinai which left over 30 security personnel dead.

The authorities have, on occasion, opened the crossing for an average of three-day periods, allowing those in need of medical care to travel to Egypt, and permitting other Palestinians to travel in either direction.

Cairo has accused the Islamist movement Hamas, the de facto rulers of the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip, of aiding militant groups in northern Sinai. Hamas has repeatedly denied the accusations.

source:Ahram Online