Israel, Egypt, PA responsible for 28 Palestinian killed at Rafah

28 Palestinians die in Egypt as result of closure of Rafah Crossing

Date: 07 / 07 / 2007  Time:  17:20

Palestinians waiting at Rafah (MaanImages) Gaza - Ma'an - The director of the ambulance and emergency department in the Palestinian ministry of health, Dr Mu'awiya Hassanein, on Saturday announced the deaths of 28 Palestinians who had been trapped in Egypt due to the closure of the Rafah Crossing, between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, since the 1st of June. Of the 28 casualties, 5 had died at the crossing. The rest had all died in Egyptian medical facilities. Dr Hassanein added that the Palestinian health ministry was able to deliver the corpses to the Gaza Strip, through the Kerem Shalom Crossing, with the coordination of the Egyptian and Israeli ambulance services. All of the deceased were Palestinians who had travelled to Egypt for medical treatment. The corpses were held in morgues in Egypt, before arrangements were made to return them to Gaza. Hassanein said that the continued closure of the crossing is extremely dangerous, especially as 20% of waiting Palestinians are suffering from chronic health problems. Among the dead were women, children and the elderly. There are also heavily-pregnant women waiting at the crossing. Hassanein expressed his appreciation of the Egyptian ambulance services that aided the passage of the corpses and offered humanitarian services. The families of the trapped Palestinians are powerless to help; they have held demonstrations and rallies calling for the reopening of the crossings. The stranded citizens have also sent appeals from their mobile phones to TV stations. Hamas held a rally on Saturday, demanding the reopening of Rafah Crossing. A Palestinian girl, Amal Habib, told Ma'an that she has seventeen family members trapped at Rafah Crossing.