Egypt Opens Rafah Crossing for Two Days; 400 Sick Gazans to Enter Egypt 31 Aug

Text of report in English by pro-Hamas Palestinian Information Centre website on 30 August

[Unattributed report from Rafah: "Rafah Crossing Opened Before Stranded Passengers"]

The Egyptian authority on 30 August opened the Rafah border terminal with the Gaza Strip for two days to allow stranded Egyptians back to their lands along with Palestinians carrying Egyptian residence permits and holders of foreign passports.

Mohammed Odwan, the spokesman of the Palestinian crossings department, told PIC in a telephone contact that the crossing was open on Saturday morning and that two Palestinian buses had already crossed into the Egyptian gate. He said that 30 buses are expected to leave the Strip to Egypt on 30 August carrying more than 1,500 stranded citizens, noting that passengers head to Khan Younis gathering point before they are taken in buses to the crossing to avoid any problem.

The PNA interior ministry in Gaza is organizing the departure in order to facilitate their travel without problems, he said, noting that field contacts are ongoing between the Egyptian and Palestinian sides to facilitate the travel procedures.

On 31 August around 400 seriously ill Palestinians are expected to cross into Egypt while a number of those stranded at the Egyptian side would be allowed entry into the Strip. The interior ministry published the names of the 400 patients, explaining that children less than 15 years old and women would be allowed to have a companion with each one of them.

Originally published by Palestinian Information Centre website in English 30 Aug 08.

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