Four Palestinians were killed and another 10 injured after Egyptian security forces blew up four tunnels under the border with Gaza.

The Palestinian police blame the Egyptian security forces for killing the Palestinians by destroying the tunnels while they were working in them, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

Egyptian security officials have admitted they destroyed four tunnels north of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza.

Three people died of smoke inhalation and a fourth died due to injuries received from flying debris.

Palestinian witnesses also said an explosion on the Egyptian side of the tunnel caused the cave-in.

Palestinians have largely relied on the tunnels for importing food and other vital assistance into the Gaza Strip since Israel imposed a tight blockade on the coastal enclave after Hamas took control of the region in June 2007.

However, Israel and Egypt accuse the Palestinians of using the tunnels to smuggle arms into the enclave.

Over 120 Palestinians have died in cave-ins or were killed by Israeli attacks on tunnels since Israel and Egypt sealed Gaza about three years ago.

Egypt is now building a wall with an underground depth of 30 meters (100 feet) and a length of 10 kilometers (six miles) along the Rafah border.

The barrier has reportedly destroyed many tunnels along the border that had served as a crucial lifeline for the impoverished territory where 1.5 million Palestinians live.

(Press TV)