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Egypt opens Gaza Strip border crossing for two days

By Marilyn Malara
Palestinian children sit while their families wait with their luggage for travel permits to cross into Egypt, through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza, in Khan Younis in southern Gaza January 13, 2016. Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah border crossing on Saturday for two days, officials said. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI
1 of 5 | Palestinian children sit while their families wait with their luggage for travel permits to cross into Egypt, through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza, in Khan Younis in southern Gaza January 13, 2016. Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah border crossing on Saturday for two days, officials said. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo

RAFAH , Egypt, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will be opened for the first time this year beginning Saturday.

The crossing -- which is the only non-Israeli opening from Gaza to the rest of the world -- will be open for two consecutive days starting Jan. 13. Hundreds of Palestinians, many women and children, are expected to pass through during the weekend.

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The move to open the border was ordered by Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi, who shut it down last year for protection after an Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip.

Gaza is home to about 1.8 million Palestinians blocked from leaving the region due to strict blockades by Israel.

PNN reports Sisi is keen to open the Rafah border more often, but insists Palestinian state authorities should oversee the Gaza side, and not a single faction.

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