The Egyptian authorities have again sealed the Rafah crossing Thursday night, after the planned three-day opening came to an end. According to state-owned news agency MENA, approximately 1,158 people crossed from Gaza into Egypt during the three days.
Shai Grenburg, spokesperson for Gisha, a legal centre for freedom of movement issues, said: "At least 10,000 people have signed up to travel from the [Gaza] Strip, most of them have been stuck since the military operation last summer. There is a tremendous need for keeping the crossing open as Gaza residents have a right to access the outside world."
The Rafah crossing is a vital route for travellers going in and out Gaza, as Israel continues its closure of other land crossings, as well as their bans on air and sea travel from the Gaza Strip.
The Egyptian military has destroyed thousands of tunnels from the Strip over the past two years. It has also evacuated an area around the Egyptian-Gaza border of homes, now extending to 5km on the Egyptian side, to create a "buffer zone" across the border.
