The reopening of Rafah, the Palestinians' sole border crossing outside of Israeli control, came shortly after the army announced on Wednesday that kidnappers had freed the abductees seized last week in Sinai Peninsula.

Ghazi Hamad, the deputy foreign minister in Gaza, said on Tuesday that at least seven thousand Palestinians were unable to cross the Rafah border crossing.

The kidnappers were heavily armed with SAM anti-aircraft missiles and heavy machineguns, interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim said on Tuesday.

He said there were no negotiations with the kidnappers, who were demanding the release of jailed Bedouin militants, but tribal leaders were working to persuade the gunmen to release the hostages.