CAIRO, EGYPT (BNO NEWS) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi on Friday said that the Rafah crossing to Gaza will be opened permanently, the Al-Ahram newspaper reported.

Al-Arabi added that the decision to close the crossing was "shameful" and the Egyptian government decided to take important steps to ease the blockade on Gaza. By opening the Rafah crossing, Palestinians will be able to enter and exit Gaza without needing Israel's permission or supervision.

Israel expressed its concern to the possible re-opening of the Rafah crossing. In the past Egypt and Israel shared the policy of sustaining the blockade in Gaza. However, after the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak, the new military regime has reviewed its stand towards Gaza.

The Rafah border is the only way in and out of Gaza which does not pass through Israel. The Jewish nation is concerned that the open border crossing will allow the free passage of weapons.

In February, Egypt opened the Rafah crossing to allow limited Palestinian passage in both directions. The border access was closed during the January unrest in the North African country.

Last year, Egyptian authorities decided to open the Rafah border crossing to Gaza following the attack on a Pro-Gaza aid flotilla by the Israeli navy to allow humanitarian and medical aid as well as receiving patients in need of urgent medical attention.

The crossing opening was decided in part due to the pressure by Arabs and Palestinians to end the three-year blockade imposed by Israel after Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.

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