RAFAH, Gaza Strip - Egyptian security forces used water cannon on Wednesday to keep thousands of Palestinians from storming across the border from Gaza, where Israel was due to ease a punishing blockade by opening crossings and allowing in truckloads of supplies. 'Egyptian security forces are using water cannons to control thousands of Palestinians who are trying to enter Egypt,' a Palestinian security official said, adding that calm was later restored.Egypt had deployed dozens of extra troops near the Rafah crossing itself and many more along the border with the Gaza Strip. Witnesses on the Gaza side of the border said hundreds of Palestinians had stormed the border terminal in Rafah as Israel was easing the blockade of the impoverished territory. Six members of Egyptian security forces were lightly injured when Palestinians threw rocks at them, the official said, adding that Egypt later gave security forces an order 'not to respond to Palestinian provocation.'
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He said no Palestinians had entered Egypt from Rafah on Wednesday and just over 200 had entered on Tuesday, adding: 'Palestinians had expected that many more would be allowed in.'