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Hamas retakes control of Gaza’s border with Egypt

The Palestinian Authority removed its presence from the Gaza-Egypt border because Hamas was “abusing” PA personnel. 

By World Israel News Staff

Hamas employees retook control of the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Monday after the Palestinian Authority withdrew its own staff, an AFP journalist and Hamas officials said.

On Sunday, the PA’s Civil Affairs Authority accused Hamas of “summoning, arresting and abusing our employees,” leading it to conclude that their presence was futile, according to official Palestinian Authority news agency WAFA.

An AFP journalist saw Hamas officials at the border crossing’s main gate and nearby offices in southern Gaza on Monday.

Hamas overthrew the PA from the Gaza Strip in 2007, but the Authority took control of Rafah in November 2017 as part of a deal for Egypt to reopen the border that had been entirely shut since August that year and largely sealed for years beforehand.

Rafah is the only way for Gazans to leave without entering Israel.

Hamas Interior Ministry spokesman Iyad al-Bozum said his organization “will protect the interests of our people.”