Legislative Council Urges Opening Rafah Crossing Border Permanently

The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) has called on the Egyptian authorities to stop its campaign of demolishing the border tunnels which are used to bring vital supplies into the besieged Gaza Strip. Dr. Ahmed Bahar, first deputy chairman of the PLC, said in a press conference held on Monday morning at the Rafah crossing border , that these tunnels constituted the life line for the besieged strip since 2007. These tunnels are an exceptional solution till the opening of the Rafah crossing permanently for individuals and goods, he said, calling on Egyptian authorities not to take part in the Israeli and American plans to starve the children of Gaza. Bahr expressed deep concern over the Egyptian campaign to destroy all the tunnels, the arrest of a group of Gaza's fishermen and the closure of Rafah crossing by Egyptian authority as part of its collective punishment that violates international law. He called on Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing permanently. He stressed the need to release the five arrested fishermen who were detained on Friday by Egyptian Navy, denouncing targeting their fishing boats by Egyptian fire. He stressed the historical and social relations shared between the neighboring countries, denouncing all suspicious attempts to drive a wedge between Gaza and Egypt. We confirm our keenness to maintain security in Egypt. The Egyptian security is an integral part of Palestinian national security, he said, calling to stop the suspicious media incitement against Gaza and the resistance. He praised the Egyptian support for the Palestinian cause during past decades, saying that Palestinians and the Egyptians are united against the enemies' schemes.