Egypt shuttered its only crossing with the blockaded Gaza Strip on Thursday putting in place beefed-up security measures for the anniversary of the Egyptian coup of January 2011.
Egyptian authorities said the crossing will be kept closed in both directions.
The crossing would be reopened on Sunday after the holiday which marks the anniversary of the military coup carried out by incumbent president Abdel Fattah al-Sissi against the democratically-elected Mohamed Morsi.
Rafah border-crossing is the sole terminal through which Palestinians living in the besieged coastal enclave of Gaza are allowed access to the outside world heading for universities hospitals or other vital facilities. Egypt does not keep the passageway open on a regular basis.
