Gazans hail decision to open border, flock to Egypt

RAFAH: Hundreds of Gazans flocked to Rafah over the weekend, taking advantage of the opening of the Egyptian-Gaza border, which counts as an important step towards lifting the blockade imposed four years ago.

Gazans coming into Egypt welcomed the decision to open the border, likening it to “prison gates.”

“It’s a feeling of freedom, we are suffering a lot,” said Gamal Ezz Eldin who was traveling to Cairo to visit his sick daughter.

The opening follows an April 27 unity accord between factions of Hamas and Fatah in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil El-Araby announced in April that the crossing would reopen permanently, stressing this would help ease the blockade imposed by Israel.

Both Palestinians and Egyptians hailed the decision taken by Foreign Minister Nabil El-Araby. Many believe that it was taken in the spirit of the January 25 Revolution to facilitate the reconciliation of Fatah and Hamas, which Egypt mediated.

“For us Egypt is above all, Egyptians are our siblings, when the Egyptians rise and start taking their rights so will the Palestinians,” said Maha Awad, who was waiting with her cousin to cross into the Egyptian side to attend another family member’s wedding.

“Gazans wish Egypt the best, we have God first, Egyptians second,” Musbah Mohammed, another traveler, said.

The opening of the Rafah border indicates a change in the policy towards Gaza by the Egyptian government. The decision will allow the flow of people, but not goods, in and out of Gaza without the Israeli permission.

However there are still some restrictions on travelers. Children, women and old men are allowed in without visas, yet travelers between 18–40 years old are required to obtain a visa before entering the country. Palestinian students entering Egypt to study are also exempted from visas as long as they can prove that they are affiliated to an Egyptian university

“My son studies medicine at one of the Egyptian universities, now he is very sick and I have to visit him but his father is left behind because he is still 39 years old,” said Farah El-Heloui, mother for four.

“It’s a great decision, but the Egyptian government is unpredictable, God only knows what they will do next,” she added.

The Rafah border has remained largely closed since June 2006, when Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza after ruling Hamas kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. It was tightened further by former president Hosni Mubarak in conjunction with Israel, after Hamas seized control of the territory overthrowing Fatah.

Fearing Islamists, Mubarak ensured the tightening of the borders with few exceptions to avoid a humanitarian crisis. Students and residents in need of medical treatment were allowed to pass through to Egypt. The United Nations has called the blockade illegal and repeatedly demanded it be lifted but no action was taken against Israel.

“Egyptians are our brothers, they are our only hope after God and that’s what they must understand,” said Rowaya Sakr after she crossed into Egypt.

However, while Gazans agree that this is a positive step, some travelers expressed their fears that the government may soon close the borders again.

“People are not excited as they should be because they fear that this is a temporary decision, despite the officials’ assurance that the borders are opened permanently,” said political activist Samah Al-Rawagh who was crossing to Egypt to travel to Turkey. Al-Rawagh had attempted to cross twice before the decision to open the border was taken.

Meanwhile, the terminal holding other nationalities entering Gaza remained empty with small numbers of people arriving every now and then throughout the day, some of them with high expectations.

A 70-year-old Gazan living in Egypt for 60 years was turned back to where he lives, as he was unable to obtain a passport from Fatah.

“I haven’t seen my daughters in 30 years, so I came to cross the border and return back to my country, but it seems that the Egyptian side is just creating media hype … This is unfair,” he said.

The European Union said it was in consultations with Egypt, the Palestinians and Israel about returning its team of advisers to monitor activity along the frontier.

“We want neither the Europeans nor the Israelis, Egypt should make it an Arab-Arab monitor,” said Awad.

Egyptians working on the Rafah border hailed the decision explaining that Palestinians should visit Egypt and Egyptians should visit Palestinians to help enhance trade between the people of both sides.

Hajj Mesalem, a Bedouin said, “We want our government to end the blockade on Gaza, they should allow us to send cement and construction materials to rebuild their homes that Israel bombed.”

Officials in Israel said they are “very concerned” about the implications of the Egyptian decision.

AFP reported that an official speaking on condition of anonymity said that Hamas already built up a “dangerous military machine” in northern Sinai which could be further strengthened by opening Rafah.

"We are troubled by the developments in Egypt, by the voices calling to annul the peace treaty, by the rapprochement between Egypt and Iran, and by the upgrading of relations between Egypt and Hamas. These developments potentially have strategic implications for Israel’s national security," the Israeli source told AFP.

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