A Hamas spokesman said Egypt had told Hamas that it would close the Rafa border between Egypt and Gaza from Monday.
“We were informed by the Egyptian authorities that the Rafa crossing will be closed tomorrow, Monday, in both directions,” Iyad al-Bozom, spokesman for the Hamas-controlled Gaza Interior Ministry, said in a statement on Sunday evening.
Security sources in Egypt confirmed the move to AFP, saying the crossing would be closed until further notice, without giving details or reasons.
Reuters news agency quoted Egyptian security sources as saying the shutdown was “for security reasons”.
However, the move appeared to be an expression of Cairo’s anger after a Hamas terrorist group held violent protests along the border with Israel in which an Israeli soldier was shot and seriously injured. Forty Palestinians were injured in the clashes.
After the riots, Israel carried out airstrikes on four Hamas weapons depots.
Egypt is trying to broker an extended ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the weekend’s violence was seen as a setback in the effort.
Palestinian protesters raising the national flag burn tires during a demonstration by the fence on the border with Israel, east of Gaza City, on August 21, 2021. (Khatib/AFP said)
Egypt ordered the Rafa crossing between Gaza and Egypt – the enclave’s only border point not controlled by Israel – to open in May to allow injured Gazaans to be treated and aided in Egyptian hospitals.
The inauguration follows an 11-day exchange of Hamas rocket fire and Israeli airstrikes, which prompted Egypt to pledge $500 million to rebuild Gaza.
Israel and Egypt maintained a blockade on Gaza to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons and materials to build fortifications and tunnels.
Hamas has ruled Gaza since ousting the Palestinian Authority in a violent coup in 2007. Since then there have been four rounds of major fighting between Israel and the terrorist group.
