'Egypt to permanently open Rafah border crossing'

Egyptian FM Elaraby tells Al-Jazeera that Gaza crossing could be opened within 7 to 10 days; "steps taken to alleviate suffering of Palestinians."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Elaraby 311 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Elaraby 311
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza will open on a permanent basis within seven to ten days, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Elaraby told Al-Jazeera during an interview Thursday.
He said during the interview that steps would be taken in order to alleviate the "suffering of the Palestinain people."
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The opening of the crossing would allow greater freedom of movement for people on both sides of the border, as well as goods in and out of Gaza without Israeli permission.
In February, a limited number of Palestinians were allowed to cross through the border.
The Rafah border was opened for the first time since January 30, 2011 during riots that erupted throughout Egypt which led to the ousting of Hosni Mubarak. 
"Egypt has decided to reopen the border and it will allow up to 300 people from the Gaza Strip to exit each day," Hamas official Ghazi Hamad was quoted as saying at the time.