Egypt opens Rafah crossing one last day for return of pilgrims

The Rafah border crossing was opened for the last time today to allow for the return of pilgrims from Hajj.

The Egyptian government had declared that it would be opening the crossing for four days this week. Two groups of pilgrims were reportedly allowed to cross through yesterday.

Egypt opened the crossing on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday to allow the return of the pilgrims.

Palestinians in Gaza must receive permission from the Egyptian government to go on the Hajj pilgrimage as the airport in Cairo is the only avenue Gazans have to travel abroad.

Egypt has upheld an Israeli military blockade on the Gaza Strip for the majority of the past three years, since the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi in 2013 and the rise to power of Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in Egypt.