GAZA, October 25, 2017 (WAFA) – A 12-person European delegation arrived on Wednesday in the Gaza Strip through Erez/Beit Hanoun crossing with Israel to checkup Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

The visit comes in coordination with the Palestinian government in preparation for its takeover of the terminal following the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement.

The Gaza Strip and Rafah crossing have been controlled by Hamas since its takeover of the Gaza Strip in July 2007.

However, following the signing of the reconciliation agreement in Cairo on October 12 between Fatah and Hamas, the latter agreed to turn over control of Gaza to the Palestinian government headed by Rami Hamdallah.

It also agreed to hand over the Rafah crossing, the main exit port for Gaza’s two million population, to the Palestinian government, which will run it along with Egypt and under European Union (EU) supervision. EU personnel are expected to monitor movement of Palestinians at the crossing.

Egypt opens the crossing for few days every three or four months, making travel of Gazans almost impossible. However, once the government takes it over and the EU monitors are present there, the crossing is expected to be open continuously.

K.T./M.K.