Gaza: European monitors close crossing with Egypt

Gaza: European monitors close crossing with Egypt

Europeans at the Rafah crossing asked the Palestinians operating the passage to stop operations until the security alert was lifted, said a spokesman for the European monitors, Julio De La Guardia. The alert was withdrawn within 30 minutes, De La Guardia said.

The European monitors are stationed at Rafah under an agreement between Israel, the Palestinians and Egypt that was brokered by the U.S. after Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip last September.

Last week, Palestinian officials of the ruling Hamas group brought in millions of dollars into Gaza through Rafah in an effort to alleviate a dire cash shortage that has left the government unable to pay salaries of civil servants, the AP reports.