By Xinhua,
Gaza : Egypt closed Rafah border crossing with Gaza Strip on Wednesday following the turmoil created by the Palestinian travelers who wanted to cross from Gaza into Egypt, officials in Gaza said.
A statement issued by the deposed government of Hamas movement in Gaza said that following riots and chaos at Rafah crossing, Egypt announced that the crossing is closed until a further notice.
Egypt had decided to open Rafah crossing for three days from Tuesday to Thursday. On Tuesday very few numbers of travelers, most of them patients who need urgent medical treatment managed to leave the Gaza Strip.
The interior ministry of the deposed government of Hamas accused Egypt on Wednesday for tightening the siege imposed on Gaza Strip by slowing the movement at Rafah crossing.
Ihab al-Ghusein, spokesman of Hamas interior ministry told reporters “the Egyptian side is participating in the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and is on purpose mounts the Palestinian people suffering.”
He said that Egypt didn’t allow entrance of 1500 Palestinian patients who need urgent medical treatments at abroad hospitals and about 6000 others who study, work or live in other Arab and foreign countries.
Hundreds of Palestinian travelers broke into the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing on Wednesday, a day after being stuck between the Palestinian and the Egyptian gates, witnesses said.
Some of the travelers could cross into the Egyptian territory as Egyptian forces boosted its presence with anti riot gear. The Egyptians also opened water cannons at the Palestinians who were pushing towards the gates.
Palestinian youths threw stones towards Egyptian forces at Rafah crossing and the forces that deployed on the border. Three Palestinians were reportedly injured by stones.