Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah crossing on Monday, allowing Palestinians to both enter and exit Gaza for the first time in two months.

Shortly before noon, two buses had already passed into Egypt from the Strip. The increased movement at the crossing is expected to continue for three days, officials said.

The de facto government crossings committee said the first bus transferred patients into Egypt, which arrived at 9:30am. The committee said it hoped the three days of open crossings would clear much of the waiting list of patients, students and family members waiting to cross the border.

While "three days are not enough to clear the entire list of Gaza residents registered with committee," a statement said, it expressed thanks to the Egyptian side for what it called a high level of coordination around the opening.