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Egyptian military closes main crossing to Gaza Strip

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 22, 2013 6:20PM GMT

Egypt military has once again sealed the main crossing to the besieged Gaza Strip following the worsening security situation across the North African country.

Egyptian military officials closed the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip until further notice. Authorities said the crossing will be shut down in both directions because of deteriorating security in Egypt.

Hamas officials in Gaza said the Egyptian authorities had informed the Palestinian side that the crossing was closed.

"Egyptian authorities notified us that they are closing the Rafah crossing again until further notice," media outlets quoted Hamas crossing coordinator Maher Abu Sabha as saying.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been stranded on the Egyptian side of the border since Saturday.

On September 11, Egyptian authorities shut down the border crossing following deadly bomb attacks which killed more than 10 people and injured nearly 20 others in north Sinai. The crossing had been temporarily opened for two days in order to allow the exit of sick Palestinians and foreign citizens.

The Egyptian interim authorities also closed the border crossing for several days after the military overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi in early July. However, it was later reopened for some specific hours a day.

Over the past months, Egyptian military has also increased its crackdown on supply tunnels leading into Gaza. Impoverished Palestinians are forced to use underground tunnels to bring in essential supplies including food, fuel and medicine.

Some 800 people normally leave for Egypt and beyond through the Rafah crossing, the only passageway leading to the rest of the world for most Gazans.

Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza since 2007. The siege has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the impoverished enclave, having turned the territory into the world's largest open-air prison.

JR/PR/SS