Hamas calls for permanent opening of Rafah crossing

The Hamas-led Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip has repeated its call to the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah border crossing permanently. The government stressed that there are hundreds of ill people who need to travel for medical purposes, many of them hoping to go to Egyptian hospitals, as well as hundreds of students and citizens who need to go abroad.

When discussing the health problems facing Palestinians, the government’s spokesperson urged human rights organisations to intervene in order to save the prisoners in Israeli jails suffering from life-threatening illnesses. The government named Dirar Abu Seesi, Naeem Al-Shawamrah and Motassem Raddad as being especially deserving of clemency and urgent treatment.