search
section

Egypt lifts 5-year blockade of Gaza, allowing Palestinians free entry

Published time: July 23, 2012 23:00
Edited time: July 24, 2012 09:24
Palestinian boys hold a poster of children reading "Rescue Gaza" as another flashes the victory sign near the southern Gaza Strip's Rafah border crossing with Egypt (AFP Photo / Said Khatib)
Download video (18.54 MB)
Embed

Tags

Egypt, Human rights, Israel, Middle East, Paula Slier, Politics, Security, Yulia Shapovalova

With an Islamist president in power, Egypt has eased longtime visa restrictions on Palestinians traveling from Gaza, ending its longtime assistance in Israel’s siege of the area.

­Cairo lifted visa requirements for Gazans under 40 traveling with a family to Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, Palestinian and Egyptian officials said Monday.  

"We were officially informed by the Egyptian side of a decision to allow any Palestinian under the age of 40 to travel through Rafah with his family without a visa, starting today," said Maher Abu Sabha, director of borders within Gaza's Hamas-run government.

The move by Egypt’s new Islamist government comes despite concerns from security agencies that have long assisted Israel’s 5-year blockade on Gaza, taking a tough line on Palestinian travelers due to fears of Hamas insurgents. Even after Cairo permanently reopened the Rafah crossing in 2011, heavy restrictions were imposed.

Under the old rules, Palestinians under 40 had to be escorted by security agents to or from Gaza's border to ensure they spent no time on Egyptian territory. The rather humiliating procedure often meant detention at the border or airport for up to three days.

The new measures allow Palestinians to cross through Egypt on their own arrangements, allowing them to stay in the country for up to 72 hours as they do so. 


According to an unidentified Egyptian official at the Rafah crossing, an existing list of Palestinians barred from entry is currently under review, the MENA news agency reports.

An unnamed Palestinian official in Cairo said both sides are negotiating further easing of the restrictions.

More than 20,000 Gazans are on a two-month waiting list to exit the territory, Maher Abu Sabha, said.

Comments (58)

Marden (unregistered) 30.07.2012 11:02

It is sad that YOU RT will not let me start my own comment.
I have to tag along with some .... undesirable son.
But its ok , i still get part of my thoughts out.
Censor the censors , please.
We all are thinking the same thing. why would you want us to stifle our thoughts? is it in Rusias gain?
Political possing is fine to an extend , but to make changes , you must allow them. I want to point out the conflicts in the mid east, i want to propose bases in latin america , i want to see russia some time . AM i goin to be censored yet again ?
I want to tell the truth , no matter how it hurts me personaly.
Why is RT afraid to hear it ? why sensore it ?
I thought i had found a chanel where i could post my fears about the real world, political as it may be , but real.
No sympathy for the devil , no love for israel , no love for stupidity .
Help ! , Do help us Russia. Help the new free world, one free of religion and all the fake things that they try to make us believe. DO HELPS US.

0

Undo

Marden (unregistered) 30.07.2012 10:27

Palestinia for palestinians.
Nee d I say more ?
OHHH , yes I do
israel is not a country , but a made up concept , just like the states , andd as such the states suport it . both must be put down as the mad dogs they are.
GO IRAN ! , go iran !
Russia , mother , its time for you to step in and swing the pan. please.


0

Undo

buck shot (unregistered) 25.07.2012 02:55

koz.......you are right,but the people adaptied that name for them selfs as a people both jew  and muslum until 1948 when any one but a jew was pushed into the sea ,goggle in the poam who pushed who into the sea and you will start to get an education on who realy dont belong.the land is and always be palistine to both jew and muslum but zion to those who push for simitisum,wich promotes division ,wich promotes hatred,isreil has to be destroyed and returned to palistine,,,the people of that area not the european jews are there will be no peace and a 3 ww fought over bunch of people who dont belong.just like with the native americans and the taking away of one people infavor of another .....long live palistine and my your god bless you in your fight for what is rightfuly yours,we my have to do the same here in america soon if the kenyan fashist dictator obama is reelectied

+1

Undo

View all comments (58)
Add comment

By posting your comment, you agree to abide by our Posting rules

Log in to comment in full, or comment anonymously under character-limit restriction.

100 Text

•
• – required fields

Register or

Name

Password

Show password

Register

or Register

Request a new password

Send

or Register

To complete a registration check
your Email:

or Register

A password has been sent to your email address

Edit profile

Name

New password

Retype new password

Current password

Save

Cancel
Where to watch Schedule

Follow us

Recommended

Israel to deploy missile interceptor on Egyptian border 19

 

Israel, Hamas blame each other for death of 6-year-old boy in Gaza (VIDEO, PHOTOS) 45

 

Tel Aviv boosts troops at borders with Egypt and Syria 19

Gas and peace: Egypt cuts off gas supply to Israel 33

 

Israel fears deterioration in security as Egypt opens border with Gaza 12

© Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “TV-Novosti”, 2005–2013. All rights reserved.