Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Egypt reopens Rafah crossing with Gaza on August 11

Event

On Tuesday, August 11, Egyptian authorities reopened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for the first time since its closure in May. Gaza residents with Egyptian or foreign passports, as well as patients seeking medical treatment abroad, will be permitted to leave, and residents stranded abroad may re-enter. Authorities in Gaza have also set up more isolation facilities in order to quarantine arrivals with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) symptoms. The opening is expected to last for three days.

The reopening comes on the same day that Israeli authorities closed the Kerem Shalom border crossing to the enclave to all traffic except for fuel, food, and humanitarian shipments, following days of balloon bomb attacks on Israeli border communities.

Advice

Those in the Gaza Strip  are advised to monitor developments and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments. Some Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the Gaza Strip.