The Palestinian attacks began in mid-December as Egyptian crews dug
trenches along the border for the installation of the 18-meter steel slabs,
meant to reach 30 meters underground. The project was meant to block the
estimated 1,500 tunnels that span the 14-kilometer Sinai-Gaza border.
"Whether it is a wall or detection hardware, the important thing is that
Egypt's territory must be protected," Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu Al
Gheit said on Dec. 20. "It must not be violated in any way."
So far, four attacks on the Egyptian border have been reported, Middle East Newsline reported. There
have not been casualties reported among the construction crews or the 200
Egyptian police deployed along the border.
"The wall is in fact the same wall with reinforcements made to the
foundations buried underground," the state-owned Egyptian daily Al Gomhuriya
said.
The Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip said it would investigate the
shootings. Hamas Interior Minister Fathi Hamad, who called for the lifting
of Egypt's siege of the Gaza Strip, was reported to have discussed the issue
with Egyptian officials.
"Palestinians cannot bear the pressure of a tightened blockade," Hamas
spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said.