Rafah border

Egypt opens border with Gaza for first time in 2 months

The Rafah border crossing opened Monday for four days, allowing Palestinians to travel in both directions. Crossing director Khaled al-Shaer says some 20,000 people have applied to exit the coastal strip. Gazans seeking medical care and students are among those expected to cross.

Rafah is Gaza's only gateway to the outside world with no Israeli control. Egypt has kept it mostly closed since the militant Hamas group seized control of the area in 2007. 

VIDEO: Smoke on Egyptian border after airstrikes 40 kms away

It was not immediately clear what caused the smoke or if it was linked to the strikes.

There was also movement of Egyptian tanks near border that was visible from the Gaza side.

Earlier on Wednesday, dozens of Islamic militants unleashed a wave of simultaneous attacks, including suicide car bombings, on Egyptian army checkpoints in the northern Sinai Peninsula, killing at least 53 soldiers.