A third group of Palestinians stranded in Egypt have been allowed to cross into Israel to start their journey back to Gaza.

An official has said that 457 Palestinians had reached the Oja/Nizana crossing into Israel from where they would be taken to the Erez Crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.

The remaining Palestinians have been refused entry.

As many as 6,000 Palestinians have been stranded in the Egyptian town of El-Arish following the closing of the Rafah terminal, Gaza's alternate entry that bypasses Israel.

Israel had initially approved the entry of 627 Palestinians, of which 413 entered Gaza on Sunday and Monday, before agreeing to allow in another 1,000.

Hamas has criticised the plan, saying it increases Israel's control over Gaza.

Some say the entry process was made easier for supporters of the governing Fatah party of Mahmud Abbas, the Palestinian president, while Hamas members have been refused entry.

The Rafah crossing is operated by Egypt, EU monitors, Israel and the Palestinians, and can be closed if any one party refuses to participate.

The Erez crossing is a long bus ride away from Rafah, where most Palestinians wait to enter Gaza.