CAIRO: The International Movement to Open the Rafah Border (IMORB) has temporarily disbanded its camp at the Rafah crossing after a two-month presence due to the unavailability of foreign members.
“It is clear that without international (members), Egyptian activists who would come risk [being] arrested and put in jail, the group said in an email.
There is a concern that with no foreign presence, Egyptian members would be subject to harassment at the hands of security forces in the area.
The group has maintained a constant presence at the Rafah border crossing since June 13, sleeping in a makeshift camp right at the gate. The international members of the group often come and go, but there has always been one international member present at the camp.
“What is amazing is not that we closed down after two months but that we survived, we flourished at the border through circumstances that were abusive and difficult, American member Paki Weiland said.
“We stood up to the powers, and we kept standing. Even the decision to leave, was made by those at the camp, not in reaction to the police ‘asking’ us to leave.
Another American member, retired army colonel Ann Wright, said, “The Rafah Camp has been of tremendous importance to the Palestinians on both sides of the border. Your commentaries of what has been happening at the border has given those of us who were unable to join you, updates that we used in speaking to audiences all over the world.
The group has called for a permanent opening of the Rafah crossing, the only gateway to the blockaded Gaza Strip not under direct Israeli control.
The Palestinian Gaza Strip has remained under siege for over two years since June 2007 when Hamas wrestled control of the territory from rivals Fatah.
Weiland had previously told Daily News Egypt when she was at the camp in July that security forces at the crossing had often tried to get the members to disband the camp and leave.
“They’re putting every obstacle they can [in front of us], she said at the time, “and they threatened a Palestinian family to not talk to us. They are very anxious and are being mean, [but] we are very strong and they’re not going to wear us down. We want that border opened.
IMORB promised they would return to keep vigil at the border until the crossing is opened permanently.
