Egypt 'to open Gaza border crossing' in 2016 first

It will be the first time that the border crossing will be opened this year.

The duration of the border crossing opening has been criticised by Iyam al-Bazem, spokesperson for the Palestinian interior ministry, who said it would further worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

"The Egyptian authorities should set aside political tensions with Gaza when dealing with the border crossing, which should be considered a humanitarian issue," Bazem told The New Arab.

The Rafah border crossing, which links Egypt with Gaza, is the main entry and exit point to Gaza.

It has been mostly closed since October 2014 when a militant attack in North Sinai left over 30 Egyptian security personnel dead.

Egypt has been fighting an increasing insurgency in the North Sinai region since the military ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

The Egyptian military has destroyed the underground tunnels leading in and out of Gaza as one of several counter-terrorism measures adopted by the state.

Egypt sees the tunnels as a pathway of arms and militants, forming a direct threat to the country's security.

Hamas has accused Egypt of adding to the siege of Gaza by destroying the tunnels which have long been used to transport people and much-needed goods in and out of the enclave of some 1.8 million inhabitants.

On the other hand, goods smuggled to Gaza "through tunnels, especially foodstuffs, medicines, fuel, construction materials and cars, have spared the Gaza Strip the breakdown of all vital sectors," according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights.