Palestinian and Egyptian security officials agreed on Tuesday to close the borders in the areas where the border fence was opened between them earlier in the day.

Palestinian Ministry of Interior called on the Palestinian residents who left Gaza to the Egyptian territories to return immediately, or they will be prosecuted.

Also, the P.A called on the Egyptian residents who entered Gaza to return to Egypt; otherwise they would be arrested and handed to the Egyptian authorities after the 24 hours period set for them to leave is over, Palestinians who remain in Egypt after this period will be arrested by the Egyptian police.

The agreement came after Egyptian and Palestinian security officers toured the area, and discussed security arrangements.

Rafah fence removed, Pals enter Egyptian soil freely

Saed Bannoura – IMEMC & Agencies



Hundreds of Palestinian residents flooded into the Egyptian cities of Rafah and Al Arish, after the Egyptian authorities allowed them to enter its soil for 96 hours, before returning back to the Palestinian Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

The Fence which separates between Egypt and the Gaza Strip was removed after Egypt allowed hundreds of residents to enter it without documents, or passports.

Also, dozens of Egyptians, living near the Gaza borders, entered the Gaza Strip, to see the evacuated settlements. 

Palestinian officials thanked the Egyptian government for allowing the residents enter Egypt, especially since hundreds of residents were unable to leave the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of Al Aqsa Intifada in 2000.

Also, dozens of Palestinians entered Egypt through Rafah, on Monday morning, after removing the fence several hours after the Israeli army withdrew from the Gaza Strip.