Islam Times - Hamas: Egypt should ease restrictions on Rafah border crossing

Islam Times - Hamas movement has called on newly elected Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi to end the Gaza blockade permanently by reopening the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s only gate to the outside world bypassing Israel.

Hamas is also demanding that the crossing be used for commerce in order to bypass Israeli crossings and end dependency on Israeli ports.

Ever since the election of President Morsi, the number of people allowed to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing located at the southern tip of the Gaza Strip has doubled.

Up to fifteen hundred people cross it on almost a daily basis. However, despite the improvements, the situation for travelers is still difficult.

People stay for long hours under the searing sun and the dusty desert wind try to exit the blockaded coastal enclave. Children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses are the most affected.

Former dictator Hosni Mubarak backed the Israeli blockage of Gaza by maintaining the Rafah crossing closed at all times. And it was only after the attack on the Turkish Mavi Marmara ship in May of 2010, where nine Turkish activists were killed by Israeli naval forces, that his regime partially eased restrictions.

For the time being, the Rafah terminal operates only nine hours a day six days a week.

Former Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak played into the hands of Israel by maintaining the Rafah crossing closed most of the time. Now Gazans say they are pinning their hope on Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi to keep it open for good.