

The Rafah border crisis has deeply exacerbated as the number of the stranded people in Gaza is rising. The humanitarian impact of the multifaceted problem calls to mind the early years of blockade imposed on Gaza upon the legislative elections in 2006. The Rafah crossing has been completely closed for the 6th day in a row now after 6 soldiers was killed in a militant attack against Military Intelligence headquarters in Egyptian Rafah city. The number of daily Gaza passengers allowed in Egyptian territory has dropped from 1200 to 300 after president Mohammed Morsi was removed from office on July 3rd. More than 5000 people are registered for urgent departure, including holders of foreign passports, patients, and students. School students lament that they would not catch with the new semester: While some with foreign passports were outraged: The Egyptian General Intelligence Service keeps citing security reasons for closing the only exit to the outside world. The attempts to involve Gaza in the unrest in Sinai Peninsula persist. While for its part, the Palestinian government reiterated its position denying any intervention in Egypt’s internal affairs.