By Asser Osama
Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah border crossing in North Sinai on Wednesday to allow the crossing of 2,400 Palestinian pilgrims to the Gaza Strip.
The ‘Border and Passageway Organisation’ in Gaza announced that Egyptian authorities will open the border partially in one direction, and it is expected the crossing will remain open until Saturday.
However, the organisation added that they have no information on whether the border will allow stranded patients, students, and other Palestinians with foreign passports in.
The Ministry of National Security in Gaza contacted the Egyptian authorities to open the border to save Palestinians from the “disastrous situation” they are facing in Gaza, as tensions are increasing between Palestinians and Israeli settlers all over the occupied territories.
Egyptian authorities had closed the Rafah border due to security concerns in the Sinai Peninsula, but occasionally re-open the crossing to allow Palestinians to travel to and from Gaza.
This year’s Hajj session witnessed a deadly stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia. Around 148 Egyptian pilgrims were killed, and 86 were injured, according to the Ministry of Religious Endowments.
