Stranded Palestinians appeal for partial Rafah opening

Date: 28 / 06 / 2008  Time:  15:34
Cairo – Ma'an –

Approximately two hundred Palestinians stranded in Egypt have called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to request that Egyptian Authorities open the crossing for a few hours so they can return to the Gaza Strip.

The call is made during Abbas' visit to Egypt, where he is thanking Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the Egyptian officials involved in reaching a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.

Those stranded urged Egyptian officials to show empathy and issue instructions to partially reopen the Rafah crossing. The stranded Palestinians include students and a number of hospital patients. Many expressed that they "have great confidence in Egypt, its president and all of its officials in their ability to understand their human circumstances and need to return home."

All are living under difficult psychological conditions; having been unable to visit their families for over three years. Most are women and children, and the others are students who have finished their studies and wish to go home.

Those responsible for the appeal ask that an announcement be made through media outlets if and when the crossing is opened. They stress that coordination of Palestinian and Egyptian offices is crucial, so that what happened last time the crossings was opened can be averted, and all Palestinians who wish to return to Gaza are able to do so.