World Bulletin / News Desk

Some 17,000 Palestinians need to urgently leave the territory, either for medical treatment or to continue their study abroad.

Egypt did not indicate when the crossing would be next time be opened.

The Rafah crossing, Gaza’s only connection to the outside world, has been virtually closed since October 2014, allowing only a fraction of Gazans to leave or enter the blockaded enclave.

Four Gazans were abducted by masked gunmen in Sinai just minutes after they had passed the Rafah Crossing.

Egypt claims Sinai ISIL with the abduction, but Hamas and Egyption tribesmen deny this saying that the Egyptian security abducted them.