Egyptian military preparing buffer zone near Gaza border
Photo: Reuters
Egypt to reopen Gaza crossing
For second time after a deadly attack shut down border junction, Rafah crossing to allow Palestinians stranded in Sinai to return home.
Egypt is set to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Gaza Sunday for the second time in two months to allow Palestinians stranded in Egypt enter the coastal territory, officials said.
The Rafah crossing is the only access point to the Gaza Strip not controlled by Israel. Both Jerusalem and Cairo often close the border crossing over security concerns.
It was shut by Egypt in late October following a deadly bombing in the Sinai Peninsula, reopening briefly at the end of November to allow Palestinians stuck in Egypt to return home.
Egyptian forces near Rafah (Photo: AFP)
Police official Ali al-Azazi told AFP that a similar operation will take place from Sunday and only for two days.
"Egypt will open the Rafah crossing Sunday and Monday to allow those stranded on the Egyptian side to go to Gaza," he said.
More than 3,500 Palestinians were stranded when Egypt closed the crossing after a suicide attack killed 30 soldiers in North Sinai on October 24, the United Nations said last month.
It was not immediately clear how many of them are still stranded.
Many Palestinians who travel through Rafah are students heading to universities in Egypt or beyond, or patients in need of medical treatment not available in Gaza.
