Egyptian authorities decided on Monday to extend the opening of Rafah crossing at the border with the Palestinian territory of Gaza Strip till Tuesday night, a security source told Xinhua.

On Saturday, Egypt reopened partially the border crossing for humanitarian reasons. The original plan was to keep Rafah crossing open for three days.

People stranded at the two sides of the border, including patients, students and other people involved in humanitarian cases, would be able to travel, the source said. According to the source,300 patients were allowed to cross into Egypt so far, and 45 tons of medical aids were transported to Gaza strip.

Those who had reserved tickets and registered at Hamas' Interior Ministry would be able to have access to the crossing point.

Egypt and Israel sealed off their borders with the Gaza Strip after the Islamic Hamas movement seized the coastal territory in June 2007. Egypt opened its borders on an irregular basis only for humanitarian cases.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2009)