RAFAH, January 28, 2017 (WAFA) – The Egyptian authorities opened Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Saturday for three days to allow passage for humanitarian cases and others stuck on either side of the border.

Sick people seeking treatment outside Gaza, students studying abroad and holders of residency papers in other countries were the first to arrive at the Gaza side of the border, which will be opened in both directions, to leave toward Egypt.

Rafah crossing, which is periodically opened by the Egyptian authorities, is the sole crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

Its other crossing is with Israel, where only special cases with Israeli-army issued permits are allowed to cross it.

Gaza has been under siege by Israel since 2007 when Hamas, an Islamic movement, took over control of the coastal strip in a coup against the Palestinian Authority.

Egypt has also closed its borders with Gaza after it accused Hamas of supporting the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood movement and militant Islamic groups in Sinai.

T.R./M.K.