The Israel Defense Forces has confirmed that Israel will reopen the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Friday.

Citing security concerns, Israel shut down on July 18 the Rafah border crossing, the only entrance and exit between Gaza and Egypt, forcing thousands of Palestinians stranded, including many children, women and patients seeking treatment.

Some 1,500 Palestinians have gathered at the border over the closure period and another 2,000 have been waiting in hotels in the nearby northern Sinai region.

Earlier, the United States expressed its deep concern over the thousands of Palestinians who were stranded, urging Egypt, the Palestinian National Authority and Israel to find a way to allow people living in Gaza to return home.

(CRI August 6, 2004)