Egypt keeps Rafah crossing closed, trapping Palestinians in Gaza

Rafah border crossing with Egypt in the southern Gaza Strip on 17 July, 2018 [Ashraf Amra/Apaimages]

Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip are still unable to leave the enclave as Egyptian authorities continue to close the area’s sole crossing.

Egypt opened the Rafah crossing yesterday only to Palestinians stranded on its soil, allowing them to re-enter the Gaza Strip.

Authorities had closed the crossing on Thursday ahead of the anniversary of the January 25 Revolution which led to the ousting of long time dictator and president Hosni Mubarak.

Though Egypt had reopened the crossing in summer last year, it later closed it on 6 January after the Palestinian Authority withdrew its officials from the border.

It has since only opened it to Palestinians wishing to return to Gaza from Egypt.

READ: Egypt closes Rafah crossing ahead of revolution anniversary

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