19 May 2018 | 02:21 AM UTC
Egypt/Palestinian Terr.: Rafah border crossing to remain open through Ramadan /update 1
Egyptian President Sisi announces May 17 that Rafah border crossing to remain open through Ramadan; heightened security presence and crowded conditions expected at the border crossing
Event
On Thursday, May 17, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that the Rafah border crossing will remain open through the month of Ramadan (through mid-June) to "alleviate the suffering" of Palestinians in the territory. The move comes after Egyptian authorities opened the border for four days from Saturday, May 12, through Tuesday, May 15, and after clashes between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinians on the Israel-Gaza border left over 60 Palestinians dead on May 14-15. A heightened security presence and crowded conditions are expected at the Rafah border crossing in the coming weeks.
Context
In October 2017, the Hamas and Fatah groups signed a reconciliation agreement, with Hamas ceding control of the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing to the Palestinian Authority (PA). Egyptian authorities typically open the crossing for a few days at a time, for a total of a few dozen days per year.
Advice
Individuals are advised against travel to the Gaza Strip due to the difficulties of exiting the territory, the high risk of terrorism, the recurrent eruptions of violence between Palestinians and Israeli security forces, and the poor living conditions on the ground. Individuals in Israel are advised to avoid the area near the Gazan border due to the recent clashes between Palestinian protesters and IDF personnel along the border and the frequent launching of rockets from the territory.
Due to the prevailing threat of terrorism, individuals throughout Egypt should report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and always be on guard when visiting sites deemed particularly vulnerable to an attack (e.g. public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). Some governments advise their nationals against all travel to the Sinai Peninsula due to the persistent terrorist threat.
