RAFAH, Sept 14: Hamas militants blew a hole on Wednesday in a concrete barrier on the Gaza Strip’s southern border allowing Palestinians to continue to surge into Egypt despite pledges to restore order, witnesses said.

Egyptian authorities revealed they had uncovered a tunnel stashed with weapons on the border as Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz warned that his government would not accept any security deterioration on the border.

A new deadline for all Palestinians to return to Gaza came and went unnoticed as Israeli public radio reported that the Egyptians had extended the ultimatum until midnight (2100 GMT).

Earlier in the day, hundreds of people scrambled across the divided border town of Rafah after witnesses said Hamas members detonated mines next to concrete slabs dividing the city, blowing a hole which people could clamber through.

The slabs were placed at the border in an attempt to put a lid on chaos in which thousands of Gaza residents have crossed into Egypt since Israel evacuated the Palestinian territory on Monday.

At another section of the wall, people used rope to hoist themselves over on to the Egyptian side. Others squeezed through tiny metal holes.

Amid the mayhem, Hamas militants posed for pictures with a 10-year-old Egyptian girl.

“We have come to support the resistance. My daughter Karima supports Hamas. We love them,” said her smiling father, Abu Karima, flashing the victory sign.

The Hamas leadership distanced itself from the blasts.

“Hamas denies any involvement in these explosions,” said spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. “We are surprised by this news which is without foundation.”

Palestinian national security advisor Jibril Rajub, speaking after a meeting with Egyptian officials, said the situation would be brought under control.

“They (Israel) have kept thousands of people prisoner for five years, and after this closure and after withdrawal people need to express their happiness by moving towards Egypt,” he said.

“It is necessary to take things in hand at the borders and assure that the people leave and enter legally.”

In the run-up to the 1500 GMT deadline, a witness on the Egyptian side of Rafah said police had ordered shops and restaurants to close, as businesses already began pulling down their iron shutters.

Police set up additional checkpoints on the road leading to Al-Arish, 40 kilometres south of Rafah, systematically checking identification papers, said another witness.

Hundreds of Palestinian youths crammed in the back of pick-up trucks could be seen driving from Al-Arish back to Rafah in the direction of the border crossing.—AFP