Egypt promises to open Gaza border this weekend for patients and pilgrims

According to a spokesman for the Hamas party, currently in power in the Gaza Strip, Egyptian authorities have announced that they will open their side of the Rafah border crossing on Saturday and Sunday for Palestinian medical patients, and those making the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Rafah border crossing - archive photo

Ministry Spokesman, Ihab Al Ghussein, announced Thursday that Egyptian officials plan to open the crossing this weekend,  In addition, at the end of September, the Egyptians will open the crossing after Eid Al Fitr, the feast commemorating the end of the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan.

 

Previously, Egyptian officials had implied that the border crossing would not be allowed to be opened until Palestinian resistance groups released the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, that has been held in their custody since 2006. 

 

Israeli authorities have demanded the release of Shalit, and have pushed their Egyptian ally to aid and abet the illegal (under international law) siege on the Palestinian territory of Gaza.

 

Nearly 150 Palestinian patients have died due to the Israeli siege on the gaza Strip, which began last year and has involved the closure of all border crossings, preventing everyone inside Gaza (even critically ill patients) from leaving, and preventing the entry of essential food, medicine, fuel and imports.  The Gazan economy has plummeted, with unemployment at over 90%, and exports of goods prevented by Israeli military authorities, with Egyptian collusion.