Analyst relates on effect of opening Rafah border crossing

Middle East political analyst, Mohammad Reza Hajian in an exclusive interview with Taqrib News Agency (TNA) pointed to effect of opening Rafah border crossing to ease entry into the besieged Gaza Strip which can obviate peoples’ need for food and drugs.

“Rafah border crossing is the only gateway out of the blockaded Palestinian territory bearing a population of more than a million and eight hundred people,” said the political analyst stressing no other gateway stand for Gaza people so as to meet their fundamental needs.

“Given the small size of this area, in point of fact, Gaza people have nothing for producing and consuming,” said Hajian, adding people in this area need to outside of the blockaded territory for obviating their needs.

“This border has been always affected by the policies of Egypt and Gaza,” said the political analyst stressing along with the aforementioned factors, the pressure of Israel and the US always took a toll in this area and people who live there.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the political commentator beckoned to the standing relation between current government of Egypt and Muslims Brotherhood and underscored the existing relation between Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas cast a shadow over the current relation between Egypt government and Hamas.

In his term, in despite of the foresaid line, “it would be unlikely that Egypt government will be after cutting its relation with people of Palestine and Gaza strip.”

According to him, these ups and downs between Egypt and Gaza dated back to many years ago, and the elapse of time would better the relation between them.

“In Egypt, in despite of the stances taken by the country’s judiciary and some groups against Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood, the truth of the matter is that Egypt government tries to be realistic and does not turn a blind eye to Palestinians especially people in Gaza on account of its conflict with Hamas,” said Middle East political analyst.

Gaza has been blockaded by Israel since June 2007, which has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.

The blockade, which has cut off the territory from the outside world, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the impoverished enclave, having turned the territory into the world’s largest open-air prison.

Impoverished Palestinians are forced to use underground tunnels to bring in essential supplies including food, fuel and medicine. The Rafah crossing is the Palestinian territory's only crossing outside Israeli control.
/SR