Palestinians wait for travel permits to cross into Egypt through the Rafah crossing point, in the southern Gaza Strip on Feb. 7, 2018. The Egyptian authorities announced on Wednesday the opening of the Rafah Crossing with the Gaza Strip in both directions for three days, according to the Palestinian embassy in Cairo. (Xinhua/Khaled Omar)

GAZA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian authorities announced on Wednesday the opening of the Rafah Crossing with the Gaza Strip in both directions for three days, according to the Palestinian embassy in Cairo.

The embassy said in a brief statement that the crossing will remain open in both directions until Friday to allow stranded Gazans to get through.

It is the first time that the crossing has opened in 2018.

Egypt opens the crossing for three days every month or two for stranded travellers, including students studying abroad, and people with work permit or residency in other countries.

The Gaza Strip has seven border crossings linking it to the outside world, but six of them have been blockaded by Israel since 2007, except the Rafah crossing controlled by Egypt.