Egypt opened its Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip partially Monday for the movement of stranded people on both sides, said deposed Hamas Interior Ministry.

The ministry said on its website that the crossing will remain open for three days, and only patients, students, holders of foreign passports and residency permits are eligible to travel.

The travelers who want to leave Gaza must have registered for their travel at the Interior Ministry in advance, the ministry said.

All Palestinians stuck in Egypt would be able to return home during the work hours of Rafah crossing.

Ihab al-Ghussein, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said that "8,000 people have registered and they hope to travel during the three days."

"The Egyptian authorities have promised to ease the procedures at the crossing to let as many travelers as possible to cross," he added.

About 650 patients and tens of Palestinians who coordinated personally with the Egyptian authorities would also travel across.

Egypt shut down the only crossing point with the Hamas-rule enclave in June 2007 when Islamic Hamas movement seized control of the coastal strip. However, it opens it three days a month for humanitarian purpose.

Source: Xinhua