Palestinian Ambassador in Cairo Jamal al-Choubaki on Monday said the Egyptian authorities had agreed to reopen the Rafah border crossing between Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. In a statement, al-Choubaki added that Palestinian medical patients, foreign passport holders and Gazans injured by Israel's ongoing onslaught on the Gaza Strip would be allowed to cross the border – either to receive medical treatment in Egypt or to leave for third countries. Al-Choubaki noted that the Egyptian authorities had promised not to keep the crossing closed for long periods with a view to easing the suffering of Palestinians and to allow students and humanitarian cases to leave. The Palestinian ambassador did not, however, say how long the crossing would remain open. For the last year, Egypt has tightened its grip on the Rafah border crossing, following a deterioration of relations between Cairo and Hamas, which until recently ruled the Gaza Strip. Cairo accuses Hamas – an ideological offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, from which ousted president Mohamed Morsi hails – of interfering in its affairs and fostering instability in Egypt. Since July 7, at least 583 Palestinians have been killed – mostly civilians – and more than 3150 injured in unrelenting Israeli attacks on the embattled Gaza Strip. Sunday was the onslaught's deadliest day yet, with at least 110 Palestinians killed – including 72 in Shujaya, a residential area of eastern Gaza City – by fierce Israeli air and artillery attacks. Israel's military operation, dubbed "Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populated Gaza Strip – which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – within the last six years. Source: World Bulletin
