The Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, has ordered the reopening of his country's border with Gaza.

The Rafah crossing will be reopened to allow humanitarian and medical aid into Hamas-controlled Gaza, following the weekend's raid on a flotilla ship which left at least nine pro-Palestinian activists dead.

Rafah has been kept mostly closed in the three years since Hamas gained control of the area. It is the only point on the Gaza border that Israel does not fully control.

An Egyptian security source said the border would remain open for an unlimited time. However it is expected to be a temporary measure, as Hamas is allied with Egypt’s opposition.