Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Egypt opens Rafah border crossing

|
|
 
  
Published: June 27, 2009 at 5:44 PM

RAFAH, Gaza, June 27 (UPI) -- Saturdays opening of the Rafah border crossing allowed about 5,000 Palestinians to travel from Gaza into Egypt for food and other supplies, Hamas officials say.

The heavy line of people and vehicles crossing the border also included ambulances carrying patients from Gaza into Egypt for medical treatment.

Egypt plans to leave the border crossing open for three days, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh told The Jerusalem Post. Egypt has opened the crossing just several times since Hamas gained control of Gaza two years ago.

"We still believe that closing the (crossing) was a mistake from both an international and pan-Arab perspective because the suffering of Gaza residents is extreme -- words cannot describe it," Haniyeh said.

The future of the Rafah crossing is to be discussed in Cairo next month when Hamas and Fatah officials meet to discuss a reconciliation of the rival Palestinian factions, Haniyeh said.

Topics: Ismail Haniyeh
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade Proposition 8 ruled unconstitutional in California
AARP Movies for Grownups Award Gala The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Snowy Owls make appearance in Washington
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 15
Rose McGowan at The Heart Truth's Red Dress Fall 2012 Collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week In New York
View Caption
fark
38KKK air bags keep woman safe in car crash
NJ DOT committee presents recommendations on ways to reduce train-related deaths. #1: Stop getting...
Another amenity your car is missing: A wood burning stove. Talk to this guy about getting that set...
If you think doing your taxes by yourself is confusing, try getting them done at a tax business...
Photoshop this night on the town
Rhinoceros accidentally killed by conservationists during anti-poaching demo