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ABED RAHIM KHATIB/LANDOV
Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt through the Rafah border terminal in the southern Gaza Strip shortly after it was reopened by Egypt.
# Gaza
Egypt reopens its borders to Gaza - for good
The Gaza Strip’s main gateway to the outside world is reopened by Egypt’s military leadership after four years of closure.
AFTER FOUR YEARS, Egypt has permanently opened the Gaza Strip’s main gateway to the outside world.
The move to lift most travel restrictions through the Rafah border on Gaza residents brings long-awaited relief to the territory’s Palestinian population and a significant achievement for its Hamas rulers.
But the move has also raised Israeli fears it will be easier for militants to go in and out of Gaza.
The first busload of passengers crossed into Egypt on Saturday morning at the Rafah terminal, where about 400 Gazans awaited.
Egypt and Israel have maintained a blockade over Gaza since 2007 to weaken Hamas following its violent seizure of the area. But after the ousting of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in February, Egypt’s new military rulers decided to ease the blockade.
