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Egypt: Opening of Rafah Crossing with Gaza

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Breaking News, International Relations

The post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011 [1].

Egypt opened its Rafah order crossing with the Gaza Strip today, allowing people to cross freely into Egypt for the first time in four years. The border, which is Gaza's main gateway to the outside world, was opened sporadically during the reign of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Following are some reactions from Twitter on this latest development.

Reporter Hannah Allam shares [2] more details on Twitter:

restrictions on #rafah crossing: no palest. men betwn 18 and 40 w/out sp permit, students w/ proof of study in egypt ok, women all ages ok

@onelittlepixie adds [3]:

#Rafah crossing is only available for passengers to pass through. Restrictions remain on the passing of goods.

and continues [4]:

About 350 people left Gaza through #Rafah crossing today.

Damdoma, from Gaza, can't believe [5] the news:

بالنسبة لفتح معبر رفح لو انو 1 نيسان كان قلت انها كذبة .. عنجد لهلأ مو مصدقة انا !! #Gaza #Rafah #Egypt
Regarding the opening of the Rafah Crossing. Had it been announced on April 1, I would have thought it was a lie. I still cannot believe it

Also, from Gaza, Ola Anan, shares similar sentiments. She tweets [6]:

الاخبار كلها عن فتح معبر رفح .. الي انا حاساه خبر اعلامي مش اكتر .. لازم حد فينا يجرب يسافر عشان يتأكد من التغيير ! #gaza #rafah #egypt
All the news is about the opening of the Rafah Crossing. I still feel it's news for media consumption and nothing more. One of us will have to try and travel to make sure there is a change

Palestinian Mahmoud Omar, who describes himself as a refugee in Cairo, is grateful [7] to Egypt's revolution for making this possible:

شكرًا مصر, شعبًا وثورةً وكرامة #Egypt #Rafah

Thank you Egypt, to your people, your revolution and your dignity!

Egyptian blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah asks [8] sarcastically:

هي اسرائيل هتحاربنا امتى؟ مش الناس قالت فتح المعبر هيخلي اسرائيل تحاربنا؟ و حماس هتبعت الارهابيين بتوعها يخربوا مصر امتى؟

When will Israel wage a war on us? Haven't people said that when the Rafah Crossing opens, Israel will go to war against us? And didn't they say that Hamas will send us their terrorists to destroy Egypt. When?

and Mahmoud jokes [9]:

@alaa انا سمعت لو فتح المعبر حيدخلوا اهل غزة يخلصوا كل الجبنة والعيش، أصله الغزازوة والصين متوازيين في الكمية والاتجاه
I heard that when the crossing opens, the people of Gaza will finish all the cheese and bread (of Egypt). Apparently, the people of Gaza and those of China are equal in numbers and disposition

The post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011 [1].