Egypt reopens Gaza border crossing for 3 days

By Ola Atallah and Hani al-Shaer

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Egyptian authorities on Saturday exceptionally reopened the Rafah border crossing with Israel-blockaded Gaza Strip for three days.

"The terminal was opened in both directions for three consecutive days,” the Gaza border authority said in a statement.

According to the statement, students, patients and foreign residency holders will be allowed to cross the terminal during the three-day period.

According to Anadolu Agency’s correspondent at the crossing, hundreds of travelers have gathered on the Palestinian side of the border since early morning in order to pass.

Last week, Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah crossing with the Palestinian territory for three days.

Since the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi in a 2013 military coup, Egypt has kept the border with Gaza mostly sealed.

The long periods of closure at the crossing -- which represents Gaza's only point of access to the outside world not under Israeli control -- have brought the coastal enclave’s nearly 2 million inhabitants to the verge of humanitarian catastrophe.