CAIRO: The plight of the remaining Palestinians stranded on the Egyptian side of the Rafah-Gaza border is to be discussed in a meeting on Wednesday as advocates push for the reopening of the Rafah crossing. Over 5,700 Palestinians stranded in Egypt since June have returned to Gaza through the Erez crossing, leaving Egypt via Al-Oja crossing into Israel, but some remain out of fear they will be arrested by Israeli security forces. "We want the Rafah crossing reopened so these people can return home without fear of arrest, activist Nada Qassas, who coordinates aid relief for the stranded Palestinians, told Daily News Egypt. The Egyptian news agency Mena had reported that only 30 Palestinians remain, but the local coordinator for Palestinian Affairs Abdel Sattar El-Ghalban disputed this number when contacted by Daily News Egypt, placing the figure at between 500 and 700. North Sinai Tagammu party member and member of the recently formed Popular Committee for the Right of Return Ashraf El Hefny corroborated the number in an interview with Daily News Egypt. "We want the Rafah crossing to be reopened, it is the only recognized and legitimate crossing between the two countries [Egypt and Palestine], he said. The Rafah crossing - the only direct link between Gaza and Egypt - has remained closed since Hamas defeated Fatah troops two months ago and seized control of the Strip. Additionally, El-Ghalban said that the ones refusing to return were not only those with ties to Hamas, but also people affiliated with other Palestinian factions like Fatah and Islamic Jihad. "Those remaining are wanted by Israel so they cannot return through Al-Oja, what will their fate be? El-Ghalban previously told Daily News Egypt. Concerning the ongoing tensions between Rafah residents and the government over plans to evacuate buildings 150 meters from the border, El Hefny said "the situation is as it is. The government is denying these plans but decisions are being taken proving that this is not true. These decisions, according to El Hefny, are the prohibition of new building permits in the disputed 150-meter area. Additionally, electricity and water permits are not being granted for any buildings within 300 meters of the border. The government wants to evacuate the buildings under pressure from Israel and the United States to curb arms smuggling in tunnels built under the border. El Hefny also told Daily News Egypt that the family of a boy killed during an anti-government demonstration in the Maassura area between Rafah and Al-Arish is considering taking legal action. Ouda Mohammed Ouda Arafat, 15, died as a result of wounds sustained in the demonstration which saw 15 others injured during violent clashes with security forces.
