Egypt has reopened its border crossing with the Gaza Strip after nearly three weeks, allowing hundreds of Palestinians stranded by the coronavirus pandemic to return home.
For its part, Hamas said on Monday it has coordinated the timing of the reopening to coincide with the completion of 1,000 rooms to house the returnees in mandatory quarantine.
Hamas, which has ruled the coastal enclave since 2007, is struggling to keep the coronavirus threat at bay with 13 confirmed cases so far, the Associated Press reported.
Gaza’s health system is gutted after years of blockade, as well as Palestinian political divisions.
Experts warn an outbreak would be catastrophic among the 2 million people packed in the narrow enclave.
