Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will discuss with Palestinian officials the final preparations for re- opening the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border later on Tuesday, well-informed Palestinian sources said.

The sources said Abbas, who arrived in the Gaza City on Monday evening, will discuss preparations for the operation of the Rafah crossing due to be re-opened on Friday.

Abbas will host on Friday the opening ceremony of the Rafah crossing, which will be attended by some 1200 local and international dignitaries.

Israel and the Palestinians reached a US-brokered agreement on Nov. 15 under which the key Rafah crossing, the only gate for Gazans to travel abroad, will be re-opened on Nov. 25 under the presence of European Union security monitors.

Source: Xinhua