Egypt reopened the Rafah border crossing to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in both directions, said an official statement by the Palestinian embassy in Cairo.

Around two million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip use the crossing as the main gateway to the outside world and the only crossing point not controlled by Israel.

The reopening of the crossing comes within intensive bilateral discussions between the Egyptian and Palestinian leaderships to facilitate the travel and return of Palestinian citizens to and from the Gaza Strip, said the embassy statement.

Palestinian Ambassador to Cairo Diab Al-Louh thanked President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian authorities for “their sincere and tireless efforts to alleviate burdens on the Palestinian people, along with their constant support for the just Palestinian cause."

Palestinians wait to leave Rafah border crossing after it was opened by Egyptian authorities, in the southern Gaza Strip February 9, 2021. REUTERS

Egypt occasionally opens the Rafah crossing for humanitarian cases who need to travel in order to allow the passage of students and medical patients, in addition to those who have foreign passports.

Egypt opened Rafah for four days on 2 February.

A Palestinian boy cries as he waits to leave Rafah border crossing after it was opened by Egyptian authorities, in the southern Gaza Strip February 9, 2021. REUTERS

A Palestinian boy waits to leave Rafah border crossing after it was opened by Egyptian authorities, in the southern Gaza Strip February 9, 2021. REUTERS

Palestinians wait to leave Rafah border crossing after it was opened by Egyptian authorities, in the southern Gaza Strip February 9, 2021. REUTERS