Port of entry between Gaza and Egypt reopened for 4 hours

EL-ARISH, Gaza, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- A closed border crossing connecting Egypt and the Gaza Strip was opened for a few hours Saturday and will open again in the coming days, authorities said.

Sami Mitwali, who runs the Rafah border terminal, told the Palestinian Ma'an News Agency about 370 people and 35 trucks hauling construction materials passed between Gaza and Egypt Saturday during a 4-hour window at midday.

The crossing will re-open Sunday and Monday and again Wednesday to allow Gaza residents to take part in a pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Rafah crossing was closed for the past nine days. It has been closed repeatedly in recent months by the Egyptians, who contend Hamas has used it to dispatch militants into the restive Sinai.