Egypt fully reopened the Rafah border crossing for three days on Tuesday, allowing hundreds of Palestinians stranded in Egypt to return to the Gaza Strip. The crossing had been closed since mid-March to curb the spread of the coronavirus, with only a partial reopening for one day in the past two months.
The reopening facilitated the movement of around 2,000 Palestinians, including students and patients, who had been stuck in Egypt. Upon their return, they were required to undergo a 21-day quarantine at designated centers outside Gaza’s populated areas.
Egypt’s North Sinai governorate implemented precautionary measures, requiring all crossing staff to wear masks and gloves.
Meanwhile, Israel closed its only border crossing for goods delivery to Gaza after incendiary balloons were launched from Gaza into Israel. The Kerem Shalom crossing will now only allow essential humanitarian goods and fuel to enter, with no clear timeline for when the closure might be lifted. Israel holds Hamas responsible for the actions in Gaza and frequently imposes such closures in response to border violence.
The border restrictions highlight the ongoing tensions between Gaza and Israel, as well as the challenges faced by Palestinians in accessing basic supplies and services amid the blockade.
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