GAZA CITY – Egypt has told Gaza authorities that it will close the Rafah border crossing from today, said a spokesman for the Palestinian enclave’s Hamas government.
“We were informed by Egyptian authorities that the Rafah crossing will be closed tomorrow, Monday, in both directions,” said Iyad al-Bozom, a spokesman for the Gaza Interior Ministry, in a statement yesterday evening.
Security sources in Egypt confirmed the move, saying the crossing will be closed until further notice, without offering details or saying why.
Cairo had ordered the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt – the enclave’s only border point not controlled by Israel – to open in May to allow wounded Gazans to be treated at Egyptian hospitals and for the delivery of aid.
The opening came in the aftermath of an 11-day exchange of Hamas rocket fire and devastating Israeli air strikes, which also pushed Egypt to pledge US$500 million (RM2.1 billion) towards Gaza’s reconstruction.
Egypt had brokered the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that ended the hostilities.
The Egyptian decision to close Rafah comes after a weekend of violence between Israel and Palestinians on Gaza’s eastern frontier. – AFP, August 23, 2021
