Egypt will open the Rafah crossing between the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and Thursday, the Palestinian Ma’an news site reports, citing the Hamas-run interior ministry in Gaza.
The opening will be the first such move in 85 days, according to the report, which comes as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas visits Egypt.
The days coincide with Israel’s Memorial Day and Independence Day, when the crossings between Israel and the Strip may be shut, as is often done on holidays.
Israel and Egypt both maintain a partial blockade on Gaza. Israel says it restricts entry of certain materials into the territory to keep Hamas and other terror groups from being able to build weapons and cross-border tunnels.
Egypt has been engaged in a years’-long campaign to quell Islamist insurgents in the Sinai and has accused Hamas of forming links with the Salafi groups there.
Tensions have flared on the Israel-Gaza border in recent days as troops working to uncover attack tunnels reaching into Israeli territory have come under mortar fire, drawing Israeli reprisal attacks.
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 9, 2016
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