Terrorist tunnel
Terrorist tunnelIsrael news photo: Flash 90

As Egyptian military forces entered the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt's representative in the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Asman, denied reports that they intend to destroy the tunnels that help smugglers cross the Egyptian-Gaza border. 

He was reacting to a report in the Egyptian Al-Sharook newspaper, which said that four heavy machines that (literally) have earth-shaking capabilities have been brought to the Egypt-Gaza border area in order to destroy the tunnels.

Speaking to Quds.Net, Asman said there was no truth in reports that the Egyptian army will destroy the tunnels. The only purpose of the military deployment in Sinai, he said, is to supervise the border with Gaza and prevent the smuggling of weapons and drugs.

Egypt will not participate in the blockade of Gaza, he said. What is more, he said, Cairo "will support all of the positions that demand the Israeli blockade be removed."