Egypt temporarily reopens Rafah crossing with Gaza for 2 days

GAZA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Friday suddenly reopened Rafah crossing point with the Gaza Strip temporarily for two days, according to the Palestinian Authority of Crossings and Borders.

The Authority said in an emailed press statement that Egypt informed the Palestinian side overnight that it decided to reopen Rafah crossing point on Friday and Saturday in both directions.

The statement said that there are thousands of Palestinians who are in urgent need for travelling to Egypt or abroad for medical treatment, education, business and family affairs and reunification.

Control of the Palestinian side of Rafah crossing has been transferred to the Palestinian (National) Authority in November; however, the interior security and the arrangements for travelling are still in the hands of Islamic Hamas movement.

Last time that Egypt temporarily reopened Rafah crossing point was in February, when the Palestinians called on Egypt to permanently keep the crossing opened, while Egypt informed the Palestinians that it opens the crossing point depending on the security situation in the Sinai Peninsula.

Meanwhile, Egypt allowed on Friday through Rafah crossing point two trucks loaded with fish and dairy products from Egypt into the Gaza Strip, which has been under a tight Israeli blockade since 2007. Enditem