Egyptian officials say the country has opened its border with the Gaza Strip for the first time this year.
The two officials said Wednesday the Rafah crossing point would operate for three days on a humanitarian basis.
The Palestinian Embassy in Cairo confirmed the opening of Gaza's main gateway to the outside world.
Thousands of Gaza residents are on travel lists, most of them medical patients, students and holders of residency permits in other countries. Only a few thousand are expected to be able to cross the border in the time allotted.
The announcement comes amid warnings of a healthcare crisis in Gaza, home to 2 million people.
Egypt has kept Rafah mostly closed since Hamas seized control of the coastal enclave in a military coup in 2007.
