Published Wednesday, August 7, 2013

The main crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip will be closed for four days during end of Ramadan celebrations, Egyptian authorities said.

According to Wafa news agency, the Rafah crossing will be closed from Thursday through Sunday during the holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

The Rafah crossing is the only exit or entry point to the Gaza Strip, which is under an Israeli land, sea and air blockade.

The Egyptian army often closes the crossing into the Gaza strip following what it cites as unrest in the Sinai Peninsula. The closure denies 1.7 million Palestinians freedom of movement to and from Gaza.

Working hours when the crossing is opened are limited to four hours a day, Wafa reported.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights said of a previous closure of Rafah in July that it revealed “the reality of the situation in the Gaza Strip under the policy of collective punishment and the closure of all border crossings by Israeli authorities for more than six years.”

(Al-Akhbar)