Dozens of Palestinian students on Monday morning closed the gates of Rafah crossing blocked the movement of buses and demanded to be given priority to leave the Gaza Strip so that they can resume their studies abroad.
The students staged a protest in front of the crossing and held a press conference in which they asked to be allowed to travel to “save their academic future”.
The student Esraa al-Sharif told Quds Press “Our names are included in the passenger lists” adding “We were prevented from entering the crossing despite the promises we have received from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and Minister of Civil Affairs Husein al-Sheikh to be given priority to travel when the crossing opens.”
Sharif said that Rafah crossing was opened 16 days only during 2017 and stressed “This is our last chance to travel” expressing the students’ fear of losing their academic scholarships.
She pointed out that there are 2000 Palestinian students waiting to be allowed to leave Gaza through Rafah crossing after being denied travel via the Israeli-controlled Beit Hanoun crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.
The Egyptian authorities on Monday opened Rafah crossing exceptionally for the 3rd day in a row under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority government.
Nearly 30000 Palestinians including students and patients have been long waiting for Rafah crossing that has been closed for 6 months to open.
