Rafah Crossing opens for Gaza’s pilgrims

Some 800 Palestinian pilgrims from the Gaza Strip yesterday crossed the Rafah border heading to Cairo airport on their way then to Makkah, Saudi, Palestinian sources said.

Deputy Palestinian Awqaf Minister Hassan Al-Safi said the pilgrims arrived at the Rafah Crossing early yesterday morning and all the arrangements on the Palestinian side were ready.

They did not face any obstacles on the Egyptian side as their passports were checked and stamped the day before and the 800 pilgrims were ready to pass.

Meanwhile, Egyptian sources said that the crossing would remain open for three day for pilgrims to travel, but no other travellers would be allowed through, even those who are stranded in Egypt.

Some 6,000 Palestinian pilgrims are expected to head to Makkah this year including 2,450 from the Gaza Strip and 3,550 from the occupied West Bank.

The first group of pilgrims from Gaza arrived in Jeddah, while the first group from the occupied West Bank left the King Hussein Crossing, between Jordan and Israel, yesterday morning.

Images by MEMO Photographer Mohammed Asad.