GAZA: Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah crossing on Tuesday, for the first time in nearly 80 days, to allow stranded Palestinians to return to the Gaza Strip, witnesses and officials said.
But it did not allow traffic the other way, leaving thousands of Gazans, some of whom need to travel for medical treatment, stuck inside the tiny enclave, authorities there said.
Since the Egyptian Army ousted President Muhammad Mursi in 2013, Cairo has largely kept Rafah, the main gateway to the Palestinian enclave that is run by Hamas, closed.
It has occasionally opened the crossing to allow passengers with foreign passports as well as students and patients to travel. Israel also has strict limitations on Palestinian travel through its border with Gaza.
Maher Abu Sabha, the Hamas-appointed director of Gaza crossings, said more than 15,000 Palestinians, including 3,000 people seeking medical treatment, had registered with his office to travel outside the enclave.
Egypt opens Rafah to let Palestinians return to Gaza
Egypt opens Rafah to let Palestinians return to Gaza
