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Egypt reopens border crossing with Gaza

November 1, 2020 at 2:15 pm

Officials check Palestinians’ documents before crossing to the Egyptian side on the second day after Egypt opened the Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip for three days, in Rafah, Gaza on September 28, 2020 [Mustafa Hassona / Anadolu Agency]

Egypt will reopen the Rafah crossing with the blockaded Gaza Strip on Monday, the Palestinian Interior Ministry said on Sunday.

“The terminal will be open in both directions for four days until Thursday,” the Hamas-run ministry said in a statement.

This is the third time for the Egyptian authorities to reopen the Rafah crossing since March.

Earlier this month, reports suggested that the government in Gaza was in discussion with the Egyptian government in opening the Rafah crossing permanently.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in March, the Rafah crossing has been closed by the Egyptian authorities, in fears of the spread of the disease. Cairo was reported to have opened the crossing on a limited number of occasions for a few days, primarily for the repatriation of Palestinian citizens.

After entering Gaza, travellers must quarantine for 21 days in a specified location which has been prepared by authorities.

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