Agence France Presse (AFP)
August 31, 2008 - 8:00pm
http://www.metimes.com/Politics/2008/09/01/egypt_closes_gaza_border_after_thousa...


Egypt on Monday closed the border crossing between Sinai and the Hamas-run Gaza Strip after a brief opening allowed thousands in and out of the besieged territory, a security official said.

"The border crossing has been closed and there is no agreement between Hamas and Egypt over a new date to open the crossing," the official told AFP.

The crossing was opened for the first time in weeks on Saturday.

In that time, "Egypt has allowed 4,545 Palestinians and Egyptians to cross, including 3,437 who came into Egypt and 1,108 Palestinians who headed to Gaza," the official said.

The people allowed to cross included hundreds of Palestinians requiring treatment in Egyptian hospitals, as well as Egyptian nationals and Palestinians holding Egyptian passports, officials said.

The Rafah crossing in southern Gaza is the territory's only one that is not under the control of Israel, which sealed off the Gaza Strip after Hamas seized power there in June 2007.

Egypt has also refused to open the Rafah crossing permanently.




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