RAMALLAH, November 23, 2017 (WAFA) – Egypt is set to open Rafah border crossing with Gaza for three consecutive days starting on Saturday, the head of the Civil Affairs Authority Hussein al-Sheikh said on Thursday.

He said he was informed by the Egyptian authorities that they have decided to open Rafah border crossing that would allow movement of Gaza Palestinians in and out of the besieged Strip.

Egypt had last week opened the crossing for three consecutive days during which hundreds of Palestinians, including students, holders of residency permits in other countries and patients seeking treatment outside Gaza, got a rare chance to travel abroad or to return home.

The crossing, the main and almost only exit terminal for Gaza’s two million residents, has been closed around the clock except for few days every three or four months causing heavy backlog of travelers stranded  on both sides of the border.

However, with the signing of the intra-Palestinian reconciliation agreement on October 12, Egypt said it would open the crossing more regularly once the Palestinian Authority takes control over it from Hamas, which has been ruling the Gaza Strip since 2007.

Preparations are underway to open Rafah crossing around the clock.

K.F./M.K.