Hundreds of Palestinian travelers were left stranded on both sides of the crossing, the only gateway into the Gaza territory, witnesses said.

The measure follows widespread unrest in Egypt on Wednesday after a bloody crackdown by security forces on loyalists of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

The Egyptian authorities closed the border crossing for several days after the military overthrew Morsi on July 3. It later re-opened for four hours a day.

Hamas strongly denounced Wednesday's crackdown by security forces on protest camps set up in support of Morsi, who also hails from the Brotherhood.

At least 464 people were killed in violence across Egypt sparked by the crackdown, the health ministry said on Thursday.

NJF/NJF