Egyptian authorities closed today the Rafah border crossing for 24 hours as the Islamic world marks a new hijri year, a security source has said.
Egyptian authorities had closed the Rafah and al-Auja border crossings for six days–the length of the Eid al-Adha vacation–earlier this year.
Egypt says the two border crossings between Egypt and Israel should be closed twice a year, during al-Adha and the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, according to an agreement between the two countries.
Egyptian authorities also routinely seal off the borders on weekends and official vacations.
The Rafah border crossing was opened in May upon instructions from President Hosni Mubarak following Israeli raids in May on an aid convoy bound for Gaza.
