Egypt-Gaza Rafah border crossing to be closed on July 19-24

CAIRO - 18 July 2020: Egyptian authorities continued opening Rafah border crossing to receive wounded and stranded Palestinians and allow humanitarian relief assistance into the Gaza Strip, for the third month in row, Egypt’s state-owned news agency reported on Sunday.

 

According to official sources Wednesday, the crossing will remain open in one direction to allow entry of relief materials from Egypt into the Gaza Strip for the reconstruction of the impoverished Palestinian enclave after the widespread destruction it witnessed due to last Israeli onslaught in May.

 

However, the crossing will be closed for eight days of the holidays for Eid Al-Adha and the 1952 Revolution celebration, starting on July 19 to 24.

 

The crossing has been opened according to directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi since May 16, 2021. This comes within the framework of the Egyptian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian citizen in the strip, restore the normal life of people in Gaza and start the reconstruction process.

 

It is also part of the Egyptian commitment announced by Sisi to quickly improve the living conditions of the Gaza dwellers.

 

On May 7, clashes began between Israeli forces in the West Bank and Jerusalem and civilians as the latter were protesting forced displacement, particularly from Sheikh Jarrah in Eastern Jerusalem, and assaults on worshippers in Al Aqsa Mosque. And, on May 10-20, Israel shelled and carried out airstrikes against Gaza Strip.

 

The violence and aggression across Palestinian territories incurred 243 deaths, including 66 children, and 6,039 injuries, as reported by the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA).