Gaza, Nov 26 (IANS/EFE): Egypt Wednesday opened the Rafah crossing on its border with the Gaza Strip for the first time in a month, although the measure will in effect be temporary and only allow the return of Palestinians to their territory.
Nazmi Muhana, the head of border crossing in Gaza, said in a statement that the crossing will only be open for 24 hours under instructions from the Egyptian authorities.
"The crossing will be opened for the passage of some 6,000 Palestinians," Muhana said.
Egypt closed the border Oct 25 after armed Islamist groups carried out a series of bloody attacks in Sinai in which 30 Egyptian soldiers died.
The Gaza Strip has been under Israeli blockade since 2007 when the Palestinian Hamas movement seized control of the territory and its inhabitants only have the Rafah crossing to enter and leave.