Hamas threatens to breach Israeli border

Says Palestinians can't bear confinement; IDF finds tunnel dug towards Israel; gunman killed by army.

breaking Rafah 224.88 (photo credit: AP)
breaking Rafah 224.88
(photo credit: AP)
Gazans will storm into Egypt and Israel if they don't lift their embargo of the territory, leading Hamas official Khalil al-Haya said Tuesday. Palestinians in Gaza can no longer bear being confined to the Strip and subjected to shortages of food, power and substandard health care, he said. In January, Palestinians breached their southern border and poured into Egypt, buying up everything in sight. Palestinians will do it again, and might breach other borders, Al-Haya said in a clear reference to Gaza's borders with Israel. Israel imposed the blockade to try to pressure Gaza terrorists to halt rocket barrages into neighboring Jewish communities. Egypt has kept its side of the border closed since Hamas seized control of Gaza in June. Meanwhile, IDF troops operating in the northern Gaza Strip overnight Monday uncovered a tunnel shaft which was being dug in the direction of the Israeli border fence, 700 meters from the border. Security forces believed the tunnel was meant to be used by terrorists to infiltrate into Israel and carry out an attack. During the operation, soldiers exchanged fire with Palestinian gunmen. Palestinians reported one armed man dead and three wounded. The IDF announced that an exchange of fire killed two armed Palestinians. No IDF soldiers were wounded. Meanwhile, five Kassam rockets landed in open areas in the Sha'ar Hanegev region early Tuesday afternoon. No casualties or damage were reported.