Egypt reopens Gaza crossing for 3 days

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7 years ago

Palestinians wait at the Rafah Border crossing after the gate temporarily reopened in Gaza on December 10, 2016 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

A boy sits on suitcases as Palestinians wait at the Rafah Border crossing after the gate temporarily reopened in Gaza on December 10, 2016 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

Palestinians wait at the Rafah Border crossing after the gate temporarily reopened in Gaza on December 10, 2016 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

A boy drinks milk as Palestinians wait at the Rafah Border crossing after the gate temporarily reopened in Gaza on December 10, 2016 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

Palestinians wait at the Rafah Border crossing after the gate temporarily reopened in Gaza on December 10, 2016 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

Palestinians wait at the Rafah Border crossing after the gate temporarily reopened in Gaza on December 10, 2016[ Ali Jadallah – Anadolu Agency )

A boy drinks milk as Palestinians wait at the Rafah Border crossing after the gate temporarily reopened in Gaza on December 10, 2016 [Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency]

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

“The terminal was reopened for three consecutive days in both directions,” 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 travellers have gathered on the Palestinian side since the early hours of Saturday morning in order to pass.

According to Hamas-run Interior Ministry, around 20,000 Palestinians are waiting to cross the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s only means of access to the outside world not under Israeli control.

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