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Gaza: Egypt 'to open Rafah crossing to Palestinians' | Gaza: Egypt 'to open Rafah crossing to Palestinians' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Egypt is to open the Rafah border crossing into Gaza permanently to most Palestinians from Saturday, Egyptian state news agency Mena has said. | Egypt is to open the Rafah border crossing into Gaza permanently to most Palestinians from Saturday, Egyptian state news agency Mena has said. |
Gaza has been under blockade since 2007, when the Islamist Hamas movement took control of the territory. | Gaza has been under blockade since 2007, when the Islamist Hamas movement took control of the territory. |
Under ex-President Hosni Mubarak - ousted in February - Egypt opposed the Hamas administration and helped Israel to enforce the blockade. | Under ex-President Hosni Mubarak - ousted in February - Egypt opposed the Hamas administration and helped Israel to enforce the blockade. |
Israel says the blockade is needed to stop weapons being smuggled into Gaza. | Israel says the blockade is needed to stop weapons being smuggled into Gaza. |
The Rafah crossing will be opened permanently from 0900 to 2100 every day except Fridays and holidays, beginning Saturday 28 May, Mena said. | |
"Palestinian women of all ages will be exempted from visas as will men under 18 or over 40," Mena reported. | "Palestinian women of all ages will be exempted from visas as will men under 18 or over 40," Mena reported. |
Rafah is the only crossing into Gaza which bypasses Israel. | Rafah is the only crossing into Gaza which bypasses Israel. |
The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, says it is unlikely Israel will welcome the move, although it has been easing its own restrictions on its crossings with Gaza. | |
Significant shift | Significant shift |
The transitional military government said last month that it intended to open the crossing permanently. | The transitional military government said last month that it intended to open the crossing permanently. |
Our correspondent says the announcement illustrates the more independent-minded foreign policy likely to be adopted by Egypt's new rulers. | |
Egypt's co-operation in blockading Gaza was one of the most unpopular policies of former President Mubarak, he adds. | |
Last year, Israel eased restrictions on goods entering Gaza, but significant shortages in the territory remain. | |
Mena said the decision to open Rafah was part of efforts "to end the status of the Palestinian division and achieve national reconciliation". | |
Egypt's post-Mubarak government has already helped broker a reconciliation agreement between Hamas and the Fatah faction, which governs the Palestinian West Bank. Israel has condemned the deal. | Egypt's post-Mubarak government has already helped broker a reconciliation agreement between Hamas and the Fatah faction, which governs the Palestinian West Bank. Israel has condemned the deal. |
Under Mr Mubarak, Egypt upheld its unpopular peace treaty with Israel and opposed Hamas in the internal Palestinian power-struggle. | Under Mr Mubarak, Egypt upheld its unpopular peace treaty with Israel and opposed Hamas in the internal Palestinian power-struggle. |
Hundreds of smuggling tunnels run under the Egyptian border with Gaza. | Hundreds of smuggling tunnels run under the Egyptian border with Gaza. |
The blockade has been condemned as a form of collective punishment of the population of the Gaza Strip because of the hardships it causes. | The blockade has been condemned as a form of collective punishment of the population of the Gaza Strip because of the hardships it causes. |
In 2010, the International Committee of the Red Cross said the blockade was a clear violation of international humanitarian law. | In 2010, the International Committee of the Red Cross said the blockade was a clear violation of international humanitarian law. |