Egypt Re-Imposes Blockade on Gaza Crossing

Egypt again has shut down the crossing at the city of Rafah, which straddles the border between Gaza and the northern Sinai, after having re-opened it four days for emergency cases.

Egyptian officials said they prevented nearly 150 Arabs from leaving Gaza for the Sinai on Friday. The crossing has been closed since last October, except for brief periods, as part of the al-Sisi regime's campaign against Hamas.

Israel also has restricted passage, primarily to bar three Be'er Sheba area-based sisters of Hamas' de facto Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh from attending their nephew's wedding because Hamas continues to hold two Israelis as captives.

One of them is a Bedouin from the northern Negev city of Hura, and the second man is Avera Mengistu, who has a mental condition and crossed the security fence in Gaza last year.

Israel has not commented on the Bedouin, but he reportedly has had previous contact with Gaza Arabs and may be involved in crime.