Egypt opens Gaza border, allows Palestinians to return

A view of the Rafah Crossing Point after it closed on 15 March 2020 [Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu Agency]

Egypt has opened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip allowing hundreds Palestinians stranded as a result of the coronavirus outbreak to return to the besieged enclave, Anadolu Agency reported.

The Hamas-run Ministry of Interior in the Gaza Strip said in a statement yesterday that it had begun receiving Palestinians stranded on the Egyptian side due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The ministry said the Rafah crossing will remain open for a period of four days, starting yesterday with 250-300 people crossing each day.

It explained that it had taken a number of preventive measures to ensure the safe arrival of the returnees including disinfecting the border crossing halls and placing returnees under mandatory quarantine for 21 days in special centres.

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