GAZA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) — Palestinians in the Gaza Strip can travel everywhere through Egypt starting from Tuesday, an official from Gaza’s Hamas government said Sunday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Egypt informed Hamas that Rafah crossing point will be open in both directions, a few days after it has been open for people trapped in Egypt.
An average of 300 Palestinians would be allowed to leave Gaza via Rafah everyday, the official added.
Hamas authorities on the crossing started receiving applications from travelers to control the flow towards the border, especially as the crossing had been closed since the revolt started in Egypt in January.
Patients, students and holders of visas and residency permissions of other countries are given the priority to travel.
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak decided to open Rafah crossing on more regular basis in June, after Israel killed nine pro-Palestinian Turks on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
The crossing had been closed since Hamas took over Gaza by force in 2007.
Source: Xinhua
Egypt has a border with Gaza? I thought Gaza was completely surrounded by Israel.