“Brothers" demand Rafah crossing opening

The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has called for the need to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, in order to alleviate the suffering of the people in the region. In a press release on Wednesday, the group accused the UN of having double standards when dealing with the international resolutions regarding the rights of Palestinians. The group pointed out that the UN was ignoring dozens of resolutions concerning Palestinians' rights, and that this comes within the framework of the Palestinian bid for statehood that will take place next September. The group stated: "With the approach of September, everyone is waiting for the outcome of the diplomatic and political battle that is raging in an attempt to convince the United Nations to recognize the State of Palestine on 20% of historic Palestine." The group pointed to the inattentiveness of the parties that: "The Jewish State has the decision of the United Nations, and has squandered hundreds of decisions issued by the United Nations on behalf of the Palestinians. It has cut the standards, and is transgressing the most important principle of the United Nations which concerns the inadmissibility of the acquisition of another country’s territory by force." The Muslim Brotherhood stressed that the West is disregarding all the principles of international law and human rights, and is participating in inhumane acts, such as the siege of Gaza, just because Hamas representatives were elected in the fair parliamentary elections. It added: "The West also stands against the right of Palestinians displaced around the world to return to their homes, while any Jew in the world is allowed to settle in Palestine." The group emphasized that the situation first requires the reconciliation of the Palestinians themselves, so that their words, their policy, and their will are all united in the face of global injustice. Secondly the Muslim Brotherhood stressed that Arab states must take responsibility for the Palestinian issue, as well as Islamic nations and peoples, highlighting that Palestine is the issue of all Arabs and Muslims. The Muslim Brotherhood called on Egyptian foreign policy after the revolution to bear the responsibility of the Palestinian cause, and to open the Rafah crossing without any obstacles. They urged that foreign policy should lead their Arab brothers to support the rights of the Palestinian people, stating that at the very least Rafah crossing should be opened to people and goods without any hindrances. The group called for the free and honest people of the world, the oppressed, and the homeless, besieged, and detained Palestinian people whose land is occupied, to get their rights back.