GAZA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Hamas-run Ministry of Interior announced on Monday evening that Egypt will temporarily reopen Rafah border crossing point with the Gaza Strip for three days starting on Tuesday.

It's the first time that Egypt decides to reoperate Rafah border crossing point since the Palestinian Authority (PA) withdrew its employees from the crossing three weeks ago.

"The Egyptian side informed the Ministry of Interior and national security in Gaza that Rafah crossing point will be temporarily reopened for three days starting on Tuesday," said the ministry in an emailed press statement.

It added that the mechanism of departing and arriving at the crossing will be the same according to the registered lists of passengers that will be later announced in public.

On Jan. 6, the PA withdrew its employees and police forces from Rafah crossing in protest to Hamas security forces' crackdown on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah movement's members and supporters.

After the PA employees pulled out from the crossing point, Hamas security and police took it over. Since then, the crossing has been opened only for those who return from abroad to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

The Rafah border crossing had been under Hamas' control since its violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007. In November 2017, however, Hamas handed the crossing to the PA following an Egypt-brokered understanding with Fatah. Enditem

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