Egyptian authorities have partially reopened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for a three-day period starting Tuesday after eleven days of closure.
"Egyptian authorities notified us yesterday that the crossing would be opened partially for Palestinians with humanitarian needs for three days," Maher Sabha, the head of Gaza's crossings and border agency, told Anadolu Agency.
Six buses carrying 500 passengers, including students, were allowed into Egypt earlier in the day, he confirmed.
Sabha urged Egyptian authorities to keep the crossing open permanently.
On Sunday, scores of Palestinians protested the closure of the crossing, which straddles the border between Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip.
Egyptian authorities have tightened control of the border with Gaza since the July 3 ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi by the army.
By Mohamed Maged
englishnews@aa.com.tr
