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Egypt closes Rafah crossing

February 14, 2017 at 8:41 pm

Egyptian authorities closed the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the besieged Gaza Strip this morning after the terminal was opened exceptionally for three consecutive days for humanitarian cases.

It was the second time the crossing was opened in both directions since the beginning of the year.

The Palestinian borders and crossings committee said in a statement this morning that 1,527 passengers left the coastal enclave to Egypt over the three-day period. Some 924 passengers arrived in the Gaza Strip.

The statement highlighted that 113 passengers were denied entry to Egypt; no reason was given for this.

The last time the crossing was opened was on 28 January, when Palestinians were permitted to cross for four consecutive days.

Over 20,000 people, including humanitarian cases, are registered and waiting to cross, according to the Palestinian authorities in the Gaza Strip.

Egypt has upheld an Israeli military blockade on the Gaza Strip since the ousting of former President Mohamed Morsi in 2013 and the rise to power of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.