Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Rafah opening boosts Hamas as Egypt adjusts

CAIRO: Egypt's decision to permanently open its border crossing with Hamas-ruled Gaza starting on Saturday signals an adjustment in its foreign policy that will boost the group despite Israeli objections.
The decision was first announced in April after Hamas signed a deal with its rival Fatah led by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, ending a four-year rift that led to Egypt's closure of the Rafah crossing in 2007.
The crossing, where the Egyptians have eased passage since a deadly Israeli raid on a ship carrying aid to Gaza last May, will as of Saturday allow passage both ways between 0700 GMT and 1500 GMT every day expect Fridays.
People under 18 or older than 40 will require only a visa to pass, but those between 18 and 40 will still need security clearance, crossing officials say.
Commercial traffic will continue to have to pass through border points with Israel.
A Hamas official on a visit to Egypt referred to outstanding issues, such as the passage of people placed on a blacklist by a Palestinian Authority security apparatus loyal to Abbas.
Egypt's decision to keep the border closed after Hamas ousted Fatah in 2007 following a week of deadly violence had been controversial in the most populated Arab nation.
Cairo's success in helping reconcile Fatah and Hamas after the February ouster of president Hosni Mubarak and its subsequent decision to reopen the Rafah crossing signal a different approach to Egypt's neighbors.
Mubarak and his foreign minister insisted they were obliged to keep Rafah closed to passage because of a 2005 deal that regulated the crossing, although Egypt was not a party to the US-brokered agreement.
The decision to keep it closed during the December 2008-January 2009 war as Israel blitzed and then invaded Gaza invited acerbic criticism of Mubarak, whose antipathy towards Hamas he scarcely concealed.
The border crossing had been regulated according to a US and EU-brokered treaty that required the presence of members of Abbas's presidential guard at the crossing along with EU monitors.
Mubarak's government at the time accused Hamas of seeking to use the war, which killed 1,400 Palestinians, as leverage to reopen the crossing to add to its legitimacy as Gaza's rightful rulers.
It was not immediately clear if and when members of Fatah's Force 17, the presidential guard, would return to the border, but the EU welcomed the decision and said there were consultations on the return of its monitors.
Israel says it is "worried" by the decision to reopen the crossing, which it says will facilitate arms smuggling to Hamas, although the militants acquire their arms by sea or through a network of tunnels with Egypt.
It has also rejected the unity deal and says there could be no negotiations with Hamas as long as it refuses to recognize the Jewish state and uses violence.
Israel, which eased the blockade after the aid ship incident, is likely to keep the siege in place as long as Hamas continues to hold an Israeli soldier abducted in 2006.
Gilad Shalit's capture in a cross-border raid from Gaza instigated Israel's blockade on the densely populated coastal enclave, which is home to about 1.5 million Palestinians.


Clic here to read the story from its source.