Official: Egypt to allow more Gaza passengers through Rafah
Published today (updated) 27/06/2012 15:42
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=499218

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Egypt has agreed to increase the number of passengers
passing through its Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip to 1,000 per day, the
Palestinian crossings director said Wednesday.

Maher Abu Sabha told Ma'an the terminal -- the only entry and exit point for
travelers from Gaza -- currently has 500 registered passengers per day in
July, but now has a quote for 500 more.

Palestinians are required to register in advance with the Gaza Ministry of
Interior before travel via Egypt.

The Egyptian boost to the number of terminals comes as politicians and
residents of the Gaza Strip expressed high hopes that the country's newly
elected Muslim Brotherhood president would work to ease the situation of
Gaza, which is under an Israeli blockade.

Gaza's ruling Hamas, an offshoot of the Brotherhood, hopes president-elect
Muhammad Mursi will help end the party's international isolation and ease
Israel's closure regime on the coastal enclave.

Crossings director Abu Sabha said he hopes Egypt will also increase the
opening hours of the Rafah terminal, noting that other Egyptian borders are
open for more than nine hours daily, whereas Rafah only opens for eight
hours.

The expansion of passenger lists through Rafah coincides with an annual high
frequency of travelers during the summer months.