18 dec 2016
The Egyptian authorities on Saturday evening allowed the access of modern cars into the blockaded Gaza Strip via the Egyptian-run Rafah border crossing.
According to local sources, 40 trendy cars were allowed a safe access into a car sales company in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
The move has been the first of its kind since the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza.
The Egyptian authorities unblocked the Rafah border crossing as of Saturday morning for an exceptional three-day opening on both sides.
Gazans have often launched cries for help over the tough Egyptian-Israeli blockade imposed on the coastal enclave. The frequent border closures by Egypt, in conjunction with a decade-long Israeli siege on the coastal territory, have made life unbearable for Gazans.
According to local sources, 40 trendy cars were allowed a safe access into a car sales company in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
The move has been the first of its kind since the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza.
The Egyptian authorities unblocked the Rafah border crossing as of Saturday morning for an exceptional three-day opening on both sides.
Gazans have often launched cries for help over the tough Egyptian-Israeli blockade imposed on the coastal enclave. The frequent border closures by Egypt, in conjunction with a decade-long Israeli siege on the coastal territory, have made life unbearable for Gazans.
17 dec 2016
Egyptian authorities decided to exceptionally open the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip Saturday for three days.
The crossing will be open in both directions to allow humanitarian cases to cross, the Palestinian border authority revealed.
The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is the only passage for 2 million Palestinians in Gaza, who have been living under Israeli siege since 2006, to enter and exit the Strip.
The crossing has been mostly closed by Egyptian authorities since October 2014 under security pretexts.
Cairo periodically opens the border for short periods to allow civilians with foreign passports, Palestinian students, and those with medical needs to travel back and forth.
The crossing will be open in both directions to allow humanitarian cases to cross, the Palestinian border authority revealed.
The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is the only passage for 2 million Palestinians in Gaza, who have been living under Israeli siege since 2006, to enter and exit the Strip.
The crossing has been mostly closed by Egyptian authorities since October 2014 under security pretexts.
Cairo periodically opens the border for short periods to allow civilians with foreign passports, Palestinian students, and those with medical needs to travel back and forth.
The Palestinian MP and head of the popular committee against the siege Jamal Khudari warned in a statement issued on Friday that Israel’s siege on Gaza has caused heavy losses to the commercial and industrial sectors.
The 10-year siege has targeted all elements of economic progress and economic development, he said.
The Israeli authorities continue to prevent the entry of nearly 400 commodities into Gaza Strip in addition to the construction materials, which delays Gaza reconstruction, according to his statement.
He pointed out that thousands of people are still homeless although more than two years have passed since the Israeli war on the Strip came to an end.
Over a million and a half of million Palestinians in Gaza rely on humanitarian aid, Khudari added.
The independent MP concluded by calling on the international community to work urgently toward ending the Israeli siege and accelerating the reconstruction process.
The 10-year siege has targeted all elements of economic progress and economic development, he said.
The Israeli authorities continue to prevent the entry of nearly 400 commodities into Gaza Strip in addition to the construction materials, which delays Gaza reconstruction, according to his statement.
He pointed out that thousands of people are still homeless although more than two years have passed since the Israeli war on the Strip came to an end.
Over a million and a half of million Palestinians in Gaza rely on humanitarian aid, Khudari added.
The independent MP concluded by calling on the international community to work urgently toward ending the Israeli siege and accelerating the reconstruction process.
16 dec 2016
Egyptian authorities announced on Thursday that they would be opening the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in both directions for three days starting on Saturday.
The Gaza borders and crossings committee said in a Thursday statement that they were informed by Egyptian authorities that the Rafah crossing would be open from from Saturday to Monday.
Separately, Egyptian security sources told Ma’an that the decision to open the border came upon order from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi “to lessen the siege on the Gaza Strip by opening the crossing twice a month.”
Egyptian authorities closed the Rafah border crossing with the blockaded Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning after it was opened for three consecutive days, with approximately 2,000 passengers leaving the besieged coastal enclave and about 1,500 arriving from Egypt.
Throughout the opening, priority was given to “humanitarian cases” including medical patients, students studying outside of Gaza, and expatriates, in addition to holders of Egyptian passports.
Egypt has upheld an Israeli military blockade on the Gaza Strip for the majority of the past three years, since the ousting of former President Muhammad Morsi in 2013 and the rise to power of President Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt.
While the Egyptian border has remained the main lifeline for Gazans to the outside world, Egyptian authorities have slowly sealed off movement through the border since Morsi was toppled by the Egyptian army.
Due to the constraints on Palestinian movement through the crossing, many Gazans are commonly barred from leaving or entering the besieged coastal enclave, some for months at a time, as the crossing is only periodically opened by Egyptian authorities, stranding Palestinians on both sides of the crossing during closures.
In 2015, the Rafah crossing was closed for 344 days. The crossing has been reopened on a more regular basis since the beginning of 2016.
The near decade-long Israeli blockade has plunged the Gaza Strip’s more than 1.8 million Palestinians into extreme poverty and some of the highest unemployment rates in the world.
Gaza's infrastructure has yet to recover from the devastation of three Israeli offensives over the past six years. The slow and sometimes stagnant reconstruction of the besieged coastal enclave has only been worsened by the blockade, leading the UN in September to warn that Gaza could be “uninhabitable” by 2020.
The Gaza borders and crossings committee said in a Thursday statement that they were informed by Egyptian authorities that the Rafah crossing would be open from from Saturday to Monday.
Separately, Egyptian security sources told Ma’an that the decision to open the border came upon order from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi “to lessen the siege on the Gaza Strip by opening the crossing twice a month.”
Egyptian authorities closed the Rafah border crossing with the blockaded Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning after it was opened for three consecutive days, with approximately 2,000 passengers leaving the besieged coastal enclave and about 1,500 arriving from Egypt.
Throughout the opening, priority was given to “humanitarian cases” including medical patients, students studying outside of Gaza, and expatriates, in addition to holders of Egyptian passports.
Egypt has upheld an Israeli military blockade on the Gaza Strip for the majority of the past three years, since the ousting of former President Muhammad Morsi in 2013 and the rise to power of President Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt.
While the Egyptian border has remained the main lifeline for Gazans to the outside world, Egyptian authorities have slowly sealed off movement through the border since Morsi was toppled by the Egyptian army.
Due to the constraints on Palestinian movement through the crossing, many Gazans are commonly barred from leaving or entering the besieged coastal enclave, some for months at a time, as the crossing is only periodically opened by Egyptian authorities, stranding Palestinians on both sides of the crossing during closures.
In 2015, the Rafah crossing was closed for 344 days. The crossing has been reopened on a more regular basis since the beginning of 2016.
The near decade-long Israeli blockade has plunged the Gaza Strip’s more than 1.8 million Palestinians into extreme poverty and some of the highest unemployment rates in the world.
Gaza's infrastructure has yet to recover from the devastation of three Israeli offensives over the past six years. The slow and sometimes stagnant reconstruction of the besieged coastal enclave has only been worsened by the blockade, leading the UN in September to warn that Gaza could be “uninhabitable” by 2020.
13 dec 2016
Egypt on Tuesday re-closed the Rafah border-crossing with Gaza before stranded Palestinians and humanitarian cases.
Media director at Rafah crossing, Wael Abu Omar, said the Egyptian authorities banned 160 Gazans from crossing the Rafah border crossing for unknown reasons.
On Monday the Egyptian authorities prevented 64 Palestinians from traveling via Rafah crossing.
Egypt opened Rafah border crossing with Gaza for three days on Saturday to allow passage for humanitarian cases and others stuck on either side of the border.
According to Abu Omar, 3,555 passengers gained access out of and into Gaza during the three-day opening.
Hundreds of Palestinian students, sick citizens, and humanitarian cases have been stranded in the blockaded Gaza Strip due to Egypt’s quasi-permanent closure of the Rafah border-crossing since the summer of 2013. A tough Israeli blockade imposed on the coastal enclave for the 10th year running has made life far worse for Gazans.
Media director at Rafah crossing, Wael Abu Omar, said the Egyptian authorities banned 160 Gazans from crossing the Rafah border crossing for unknown reasons.
On Monday the Egyptian authorities prevented 64 Palestinians from traveling via Rafah crossing.
Egypt opened Rafah border crossing with Gaza for three days on Saturday to allow passage for humanitarian cases and others stuck on either side of the border.
According to Abu Omar, 3,555 passengers gained access out of and into Gaza during the three-day opening.
Hundreds of Palestinian students, sick citizens, and humanitarian cases have been stranded in the blockaded Gaza Strip due to Egypt’s quasi-permanent closure of the Rafah border-crossing since the summer of 2013. A tough Israeli blockade imposed on the coastal enclave for the 10th year running has made life far worse for Gazans.
12 dec 2016
Dr. Essam Youssef, head of the Popular International Committee to Support Gaza Strip urged Monday the Egyptian authorities to allow a safe passage for solidarity convoys into the blockaded Gaza Strip via the Rafah border-crossing.
Dr. Essam Youssef, also head of the Miles of Smiles convoys, said in a press statement that Gazans’ have been impatiently looking out for the launch of a free-trade zone between Egypt and Gaza so as to alleviate the socio-economic crises rocking the territory due to the tough Israeli blockade and Egypt’s quasi-permanent closure of the Rafah-border crossing.
“Living experience proves that opening the Rafah crossing boosts the Egyptian-Palestinian bonds and enhances Arab solidarity,” said Dr. Youssef.
Dr. Youssef added that Gazans are expecting more efforts from their Egyptian brothers and sisters to lift the siege and assuage the calamitous situation endured by over two million Gazans in the coastal enclave.
“A new year is round the corner while Gazans are grappling with a tough siege affecting all sectors, without exception,” the activist further stated.
Dr. Essam Youssef, also head of the Miles of Smiles convoys, said in a press statement that Gazans’ have been impatiently looking out for the launch of a free-trade zone between Egypt and Gaza so as to alleviate the socio-economic crises rocking the territory due to the tough Israeli blockade and Egypt’s quasi-permanent closure of the Rafah-border crossing.
“Living experience proves that opening the Rafah crossing boosts the Egyptian-Palestinian bonds and enhances Arab solidarity,” said Dr. Youssef.
Dr. Youssef added that Gazans are expecting more efforts from their Egyptian brothers and sisters to lift the siege and assuage the calamitous situation endured by over two million Gazans in the coastal enclave.
“A new year is round the corner while Gazans are grappling with a tough siege affecting all sectors, without exception,” the activist further stated.
10 dec 2016
The Egyptian authorities on Saturday morning opened the Rafah border crossing in both directions for the travel of people with humanitarian cases, students and stranded passengers.
According to the border and crossings authority in Gaza, the Egyptian authorities already informed the Palestinian side of its intention to open the Rafah crossing for three days as of Saturday, December 10.
The Egyptian authorities already opened the crossing for five days at the beginning of the current month.
Egypt recently decided to open the crossing regularly every month to facilitate the travel of passengers, according to Palestinian officials in Gaza.
According to the border and crossings authority in Gaza, the Egyptian authorities already informed the Palestinian side of its intention to open the Rafah crossing for three days as of Saturday, December 10.
The Egyptian authorities already opened the crossing for five days at the beginning of the current month.
Egypt recently decided to open the crossing regularly every month to facilitate the travel of passengers, according to Palestinian officials in Gaza.
8 dec 2016
The Egyptian authorities decided to open Rafah crossing in both directions for three days starting from Saturday (10/12/2016) morning, Palestinian border crossing authority revealed Thursday.
The authority affirmed in a press statement issued Thursday afternoon that the border crossing would be opened in both directions from Saturday to Monday.
The Egyptian Seventh Day newspaper said that the crossing would be opened for humanitarian cases and stranded people.
While the Egyptian border has remained the main lifeline for Gazans to the outside world, the border crossing has been opened only for 32 days since the beginning of 2016.
Egypt has upheld an Israeli military blockade on the Gaza Strip for the majority of the past three years, since the ousting of former President Muhammad Morsi in 2013 and the rise to power of President Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt.
The authority affirmed in a press statement issued Thursday afternoon that the border crossing would be opened in both directions from Saturday to Monday.
The Egyptian Seventh Day newspaper said that the crossing would be opened for humanitarian cases and stranded people.
While the Egyptian border has remained the main lifeline for Gazans to the outside world, the border crossing has been opened only for 32 days since the beginning of 2016.
Egypt has upheld an Israeli military blockade on the Gaza Strip for the majority of the past three years, since the ousting of former President Muhammad Morsi in 2013 and the rise to power of President Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt.
Mamadou Sow, ICRC manager in Gaza Strip, told a press conference on Thursday that restrictions imposed by “neighboring authorities” obstruct the reconstruction process in the beleaguered enclave.
“Gaza has so much to give, but the restrictions are preventing Gazans from having a normal life,” he added.
According to Sow,” What Gaza needs does not rely entirely on aid, but providing the opportunity to rebuild.”
“Imposing restrictions on Gaza Strip cannot bring stability; therefore, everything that Gaza has is at stake now,” he pointed out.
“My message to the world is to display how shameful it is for 2 million people to live in such a small place and to be left like this,” he continued while stressing the need to find a solution.
Sow stressed that the Red Cross is still negotiating with neighboring countries regarding the imposed restrictions.
In the same context, Sow said,” We are talking to Israel about respecting the international humanitarian law concerning saving lives.”
The World Bank warned in a report in August that the situation in the Gaza Strip is unlivable especially in the light of the high unemployment rate, which has become now the highest in the world by reaching 43%, while 40% of the people are languishing below the poverty line.
“Gaza has so much to give, but the restrictions are preventing Gazans from having a normal life,” he added.
According to Sow,” What Gaza needs does not rely entirely on aid, but providing the opportunity to rebuild.”
“Imposing restrictions on Gaza Strip cannot bring stability; therefore, everything that Gaza has is at stake now,” he pointed out.
“My message to the world is to display how shameful it is for 2 million people to live in such a small place and to be left like this,” he continued while stressing the need to find a solution.
Sow stressed that the Red Cross is still negotiating with neighboring countries regarding the imposed restrictions.
In the same context, Sow said,” We are talking to Israel about respecting the international humanitarian law concerning saving lives.”
The World Bank warned in a report in August that the situation in the Gaza Strip is unlivable especially in the light of the high unemployment rate, which has become now the highest in the world by reaching 43%, while 40% of the people are languishing below the poverty line.
