The Egyptian authorities intend to open the Rafah border crossing for only four days as of Saturday May 12.

According to a statement released by the Palestinian embassy in Cairo the crossing will be opened temporarily until next Tuesday in both directions for the travel of passengers.

The Rafah crossing is the main gateway to the outside world for about 1.8 million Palestinians living in the embattled Gaza Strip and the only entry and exit point not controlled by the Israeli occupation state.

Egypt opens the crossing which is run by the Palestinian government in Ramallah periodically for humanitarian purposes.

Gaza has been under inhumane blockade since 2007.