Egypt opens Rafah border crossing

Egypt has reportedly opened the Rafah border crossing after the Israeli navy attacked the Freedom Flotilla aid convoy in international waters.

Egyptian security sources in Rafah said that the border was opened on Tuesday, MENA reported.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ordered the opening to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip one day after the brutal Israeli attack on the international aid convoy, which killed at least 20 activists and injured 50 others.

The Egyptian opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, had earlier called on the government to open the Rafah crossing.

Israel imposed the crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip with the help of Egypt in June 2007.

The blockade even prevents entry of medicine, basic supplies, fuel and goods into the Palestinian coastal enclave through the Rafah border crossing – which is Gaza’s only border crossing that bypasses Israel.

The Monday’s assault, which raised anger among the international community, put pressure on the Egyptian leader to open the border crossing.