Ceremony at Rafah crossing to hand over control to the Palestinian government. (WAFA photo) 

RAFAH, November 1, 2017 (WAFA) – For the first time since July 2007, the Palestinian government resumed control on Wednesday of the Rafah crossing with Egypt in the south of the Gaza Strip marking a new chapter in the Palestinian reconciliation.

Handing over ceremony was held at the Rafah crossing in the presence of Egyptian and Palestinian officials. The crossing has been run by Hamas since its armed takeover of Gaza in July 2007.

Minister of Public Works Mufeed Hasayneh said the handing over of the crossing “is an important step on the path toward reconciliation and an end to the division that went on for 10 years.”

Hasayneh said Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah will arrive in Gaza in few days to inspect operation at the Rafah crossing and to follow up on other matters related to the government’s empowerment in Gaza.

He said collection of unwarranted fees imposed on Palestinian travelers across Rafah terminal will be stopped.

Member of Fatah Central Committee, Azzam al-Ahmad, described the handing over of Rafah crossing as “an important step in the implementation of the reconciliation agreement which means movement of people and goods will be from now on the responsibility of the National Consensus Government,” which is headed by Hamdallah.

He told the official Voice of Palestine radio on Wednesday that “Rafah crossing has a special status different from all other crossings.” He said Egypt is going to officially open Rafah crossing for travel in the middle of this month after it completes modifications and repairs on the terminal.

Egypt used to open the crossing, the only exit terminal for Gaza’s two million population, for few days every three or four months, creating a serious problem for students and people studying or working abroad and for travelers in and out of Gaza in general.

The Palestinians are ready to manage their end of the terminal where a force from the European police is going to be present to monitor movement of people and goods as agreed in the 2005 movement and access agreement while the presidential guards will be in charge of security in the terminal and along the border with Egypt, said Ahmad.

He said Fatah and Hamas are going to hold another meeting to discuss the next step in the implementation of the reconciliation agreement signed in Cairo in 2011, particularly holding elections, reforms in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and security in Gaza, among other issues.

M.K.