Ambassador: conduct at Rafah crossing will remain as it is

Ambassador: conduct at Rafah crossing will remain as it is

Gaza, ALRAY - Ministry of Information kicked off the events of the first Gaza, ALRAY - "The Egyptian authorities’ conduct at the Rafah crossing will remain as it is,” said Egyptian ambassador to the Palestinian Authority Yasser Othman, pointing to the limited traffic of Palestinian passengers at the border.

“The Egyptian authorities will open the Rafah crossing whenever there is an urgent need for that," Mr Othman told ALRAY on Monday morning, citing the shaking security situation in the Sinai Peninsula.

He pinned the betterment of Gaza conditions on the fulfillment of the Palestinian reconciliation “numerous problems that afflict the Gaza Strip will be radically solved if reconciliation between the two Palestinian movements [Hamas and Fatah] is achieved,"

The Egyptian ambassador blamed the silent international and Islamic community and human rights organizations for the poor humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

“Egypt deals with other parties according to three determinants: mutual respect, maintenance of common interests , and non-interference in internal affairs.” Othman added.

The Rafah crossing has been closed for the third day after being exceptionally opened on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

The crossing saw frequent closures since the Egyptian military deposed the freely-elected President –now detained- in a coup against his rule in early July 2013.

Since then, Egypt has repeatedly closed the Rafah border crossing and destroyed hundreds of tunnels that Gazans had used for years to bring in fuel, building materials, and other goods.

The Rafah crossing has been the principal connection between Gaza's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since the imposition of an economic blockade by Israel beginning in 2007.

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