As protests and unrest continue throughout Egypt, with over 40 people killed since Sunday, the Egyptian government closed the Rafah border crossing, which is virtually the only way in and out of the sealed Gaza Strip for its 1.4 million Palestinian residents.Egyptian officials stated that the reason for the closure was a series of attacks in the Sinai peninsula by armed gunmen, following the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi earlier this week.
During one of those attacks, one soldier was killed and two wounded when fighters attacked a police station near the Rafah border crossing.
Palestinians living in Gaza voiced dismay at the decision to close the terminal, as all other entrances and exits to Gaza are controlled by Israel, and have been virtually sealed since the Hamas government was elected and formed a government in 2006.
Some Palestinians have found themselves stranded on the Egyptian side of the border, unable to get home.
The Egyptian government gave no indication as to when the border crossing will re-open.
