Sanaa El-Nahhal, who left for the Gaza Strip on Sunday to deliver supplies to relatives and compatriots, reached the Rafah crossing that same evening but has been stuck there since waiting to cross the border into her homeland.

Mrs El-Nahhal is transporting 850 kilograms of medicines, clothes and food, donated by the government and the Maltese. On arrival in Egypt she immediately made her way to Arish close to the border with Palestine, said her 18-year-old daughter Lina, who stayed behind.

She spoke to her mother when she landed in Cairo on Sunday and again yesterday morning.

The aid convoy's journey from the airport to Rafah lasted almost six hours and she has been waiting to cross the border since, Lina said.

Israel has said it expected its border crossings to be open for aid yesterday, following ceasefires declared by both sides in the conflict over the weekend.

Mrs El-Nahhal was yesterday also waiting for documents from the Maltese embassy in Cairo, which are expected to arrive this morning, so she can resume her journey into the war-ravaged region and be reunited with her family.

Before she left, she was not sure she would ever get into Palestine, which had been under attack from Israel since December 27. But she remained hopeful and preferred to attempt the journey than just sit around while her family suffered.