Rafah crossing open, but slow in letting Palestinians out

13 August 2014, 8:45 am

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A Palestinian border official in the Gaza Strip tells Asharq Al-Awsat that the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip is open, but entry to Egypt is slow and limited.

Department of Crossings director Maher Abu Sabha tells the Arabic paper that thousands of Gazans are waiting to register to travel across the border, but that the Palestinian side is only operative four hours per day. Those who cross are not always guaranteed entry into Egypt, and some are turned back.

He says approximately 550 Palestinians have crossed into Egypt daily since the border reopened last week.

“The crossing is somehow open, as you can see, but it is akin to being closed. Movement is very slow,” Sabha says.