Egypt opens Rafah border crossing Sunday in both directions

CAIRO – 18 August 2018: Egyptian authorities announced that Rafah border crossing between Egypt’s Arish and Palestine’s Gaza will be opened Sunday for one day in both directions, and will be closed again on Monday.

After it had been open for several weeks, the border was closed on Friday and Saturday. However, it will re-open on Sunday, according to a statement from the Egyptian government on Friday.

The Palestinian Embassy in Cairo announced on Friday in a statement that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered the distribution of food and drinks to Palestinians stranded at the crossing on Friday, until the opening of the crossing on Sunday.

On Aug. 4, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi ordered the opening of the Rafah border in order to ease the travelling procedure for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip seeking a Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca.

For performing Hajj, Palestinian pilgrims have to cross Sinai’s Rafah border prior to their destination to Saudi Arabia’s Mecca via the Cairo International Airport.

Egypt Air is offering 12 flights from Cairo International Airport to Jeddah to transport 3,321 Palestinian pilgrims.

The Hajj, a five-day ritual retracing the journey of Prophet Mohammad 14 centuries ago, is among the religious duties able-bodied Muslims are required to take part in at least once in a lifetime.