GAZA, Feb 20 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- The Gaza media office said on Thursday that 1,148 Palestinians have crossed the Rafah border crossing in both directions since its reopening earlier this month, Xinhua news agency reported.
In a brief press statement, the office said that 1,148 travellers passed through the crossing, out of 3,400 who were expected to cross during the same period.
According to the statement, a total of 640 people departed and 508 returned to the Gaza Strip from Feb 2 through Wednesday. It added that 26 Palestinians were turned back while attempting to leave, without any explanation.
It had been expected that 50 Palestinians, including patients and wounded individuals, would leave Gaza daily, accompanied by two companions, while another 50 would return each day, according to media reports.
On Monday, Hamas accused Israel of a "blatant violation" of the Rafah crossing's operational mechanisms stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.
In a press statement, Hamas said that despite the reopening of the crossing, Israeli authorities continued to violate the agreed mechanisms and subjected returning travellers to physical and psychological mistreatment and harsh interrogations.
The movement added that Israel had failed to adhere to the daily quotas for departures and returns, placing the lives of thousands of patients and wounded individuals in danger due to delays in receiving medical treatment abroad.
The limited operation of the Rafah crossing began on Feb 2, marking its first partial reopening in more than a year and a half. The move came as part of a preliminary trial phase under a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
Returning travellers and Palestinian factions have accused the Israeli army of restricting their freedom of movement through extensive searches, prolonged questioning, and confiscation of personal belongings. Israeli authorities have not commented on the allegations.
The Rafah crossing has been mostly closed since Israeli forces took control of the area in May 2024, cutting off Gaza from the outside world and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
--BERNAMA-XINHUA
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