Egyptian authorities on Saturday opened the Rafah border crossing with the besieged Gaza Strip for the first day in a four day, two-way opening.
Official Palestinian Authority (PA)-owned Wafa news agency reported that the crossing will be open for four days to allow humanitarian cases to leave and enter Gaza.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education in Gaza reportedly urged students from Gaza that are enrolled or have been accepted to universities abroad, to take advantage of the opening and leave.
Gaza: Egypt opens Rafah crossing for four days Via PIC @PalinfoEn https://t.co/zCezcsoCFf
— Ali Hussein (@Alihussein_2) December 16, 2017
“Palestinians anxious to travel for study, medical treatment, or business for holders of residency permits in other countries, have gathered at the terminal awaiting their term on the buses leaving to Egypt,” Wafa reported.The last time the crossing was opened was on November 18 for three days.
Egypt has upheld an Israeli military blockade on the Gaza Strip since the ousting of former President Muhammad Morsi in 2013 and the rise to power of al-Sisi in Egypt.
Reports circulated on the internet noted that Egypt sent back some 100 students to Gaza after questioning them about the reason they were traveling.
(Maan, PC, Social Media)
