Egypt Allows Palestinian Pilgrims to Return to Gaza Strip Through Rafah Crossing

Entry of Gaza Strip Hajj pilgrims through Rafah crossing was unilateral Egyptian decision

Date: 03 / 01 / 2008 Time: 10:54

Bethlehem – Ma'an –

A reliable Egyptian source told the London-based Al-Hayat daily newspaper on Thursday that the return of the Gaza Strip's Hajj pilgrims from Al-Arish city in Egypt through the Rafah crossing was not coordinated with the Israelis.

The Egyptian source confirmed to Al-Hayat that Egypt would not agree that the Palestinian pilgrims enter through the (Israeli) Kerem Shalom crossing, making them an easy target for the Israeli authorities to apprehend.

"The Egyptian officials contacted the Israelis on the issue, yet they did not respond because they were not interested in sorting out the pilgrims' problem," the reliable Egyptian source explained.

He added that the Egyptian decision was unilateral, despite the fact that it contradicted the crossings agreement between Egypt and Israel.

Israeli political echelons on Wednesday evening expressed anger at the Egyptian decision to let the Gaza Strip's pilgrims pass through the Rafah crossing.

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