Egyptian authorities announced on Thursday that the Rafah crossing would remain open until Friday, as Palestinians travelled in and out of the Gaza Strip the fourth consecutive day. The crossings authority said in a statement that the terminal would be open on Thursday starting with bus 22. This week's opening is the first in two months, as a joint Israeli and Egyptian blockade has locked down the besieged enclave since 2007, preventing its residents from traveling. On Wednesday, some 1,100 travellers departed the coastal strip and 207 entered, while 60 were refused entry, authorities said. Patients, international passport and visa holders were given priority on Tuesday. On Monday, 13 buses left Gaza, with 11 passing through into Egypt, and two sent back from the border for reasons that were not clear. Ten ambulances carrying patients also passed through the border.
