Egyptian authorities decided yesterday evening to open the Rafah crossing to the Gaza Strip for the third day in a row, for stranded Palestinians and to transfer humanitarian and medical aid, said a security source.
The security source said that the decision was made to ease the burden of Palestinians.
One hundred tons of medicine and medical supplies from the Association of Muslim Scholars in Algeria, and six ambulances belonging to the Palestinian Society for the Psychological and Medical Rehabilitation in Cairo entered the Gaza Strip through Rafah, the source mentioned.
An official security source said that the total number of people crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip reached 995 Monday. He added that 614 people entered into Egypt and 381 people crossed to Gaza.
Egyptian authorities deported 52 Palestinians to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing. Twenty-two deportees did not have visas to enter Egypt, the source added.
Thirty were arrested after illegally entering Egypt through tunnels and deported to the Gaza Strip.
One hundred sixteen Palestinians were forced to cross Saturday night because of the curfew imposed in the governorate.
Roads witnessed strict security measures, especially on the Arish-Rafah international road in conjunction with the re-opening of Rafah crossing. The army deployed armored vehicles at the entrances to cities.
North Sinai governor Abdel Fattah Harhour told Al-Masry Al-Youm LE227.6 million is being granted as compensation to the evacuated people of Rafah as a result of the military operations.
Fifty-six suspects were arrested in a crackdown in Sinai Monday.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
