Ramallah

The European Union Border Assistance Mission (EU BAM) at the Rafah Crossing Point announces that tomorrow, Tuesday, 7 February, marks a great achievement for the Palestinian Authority when the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt is crossed for the 100,000th time.

The reopening of the Rafah Crossing Point has enabled the Palestinian people to enjoy freedom of movement and to travel abroad. It has also created an opportunity for free trade that will enable the Palestinian economy to regenerate in order to improve the current humanitarian situation.

Opening hours are to be extended for the return of the Hajj from 13 to 17 January.

EUBAM is again extending the opening hours of the Rafah Crossing Point from Friday evening until the evening of 17 January, at the request of the Palestinian Authority, to cater for pilgrims crossing the border in their return from the Muslim traditional pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj.

The Rafah Border Crossing was opened this morning and will remain open until the normal time of 16.00 Hrs.

The situation in the Rafah terminal itself remains calm, and EUBAM monitors are operating as usual.

JULIO DE LA GUARDIA RIVERA
Press & Public Information Officer
Mobile Telephone: 054 4926836

EU-BAM is extending the opening hours of the Rafah border-crossing point from tonight 22 December until 27 December, at the request of the Palestinian Authority, to cater for pilgrims crossing the border during the Muslim traditional pilgrimage to Mecca, the Haj.

The border will be open for two ten-hour shifts, from 22.00 to 8.00 at night and from 10.00 to 20.00 during the day. This means that the border will be open for a total of 20 hours each day. More than 7,000 people are expected to leave Gaza during the five-day period.