Egypt Opens Gaza Border for Month of Fasting
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Local Editor
In a rare and unexpected decision, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi announced opening the Rafah crossing with Gaza for a month, allowing Palestinians to cross during the holy period of Ramadan, the Muslims’ month of fasting. The decision to keep the crossing open was taken “to alleviate the suffering” of residents in the Palestinian enclave, Sisi said on Facebook late Thursday. The Rafah crossing is Gaza’s only gateway to the outside world not controlled by the “Israeli” occupation regime before Egypt has largely sealed it in recent years, citing “security threats.” It is usually open a few dozen days a year and such an extended period is very rare. Sisi’s announcement comes after some 60 Palestinians were martyred by Zionist fire on the Gaza border earlier in the week. A total of 114 Gazans have been martyred during the border protests and clashes since March 30, in the run-up to the opening Monday of the US embassy in the occupied holy city of al-Quds. |