Egypt tells Gaza that lifting the siege is a priority

The Egyptian Foreign Minister has told the Palestinians that lifting the Israeli-imposed siege of Gaza – supported by the discredited Mubarak regime – is a priority for the new government in Cairo.

Dr. Nabil El Arabi sent a message to his counterpart in Gaza which was discussed at Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh’s cabinet meeting on 21 March. The Foreign Minister praised the bilateral relations and brotherhood between the Egyptian people and the Palestinians. “The Egyptian government’s priority is the issue of the Israeli siege on Gaza,” he stressed. “We are acting to open the border at Rafah and facilitate an easing of life for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.”

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Planning in Gaza released a statement confirming that it has been in touch with the Egyptian authorities regarding the issue of Palestinians returning from Libya. Joint efforts by Gaza and Cairo have resulted in stranded Palestinians being able to pass through the Rafah border crossing.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also confirmed that it has sent a letter of condolence to the Japanese government: “The Palestinian people are standing by the Japanese people during their ordeal,” it said.