Updated

Egyptian authorities have temporarily re-opened a border crossing with the Gaza Strip to allow Palestinians stranded outside the territory to return home.

The crossing has been closed since Oct. 24, when 31 Egyptian soldiers were killed in a militant ambush near the border town of Rafah.

Maher Abu Sabha, director of the crossing point on the Gaza side, said Wednesday that the crossing would be open Wednesday and Thursday — but only to those entering Gaza.

Egypt has since started demolishing houses along the border to create a security buffer zone and block cross-border smuggling tunnels.

Sabha called on the Egyptian government to fully open the border to two-way traffic.