Palestine’s Hamas movement has condemned Egypt’s plans to build a metal wall along the Gaza Strip as a crime against humanity.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum has said the move will further block humanitarian assistance to the besieged impoverished region.

Receiving full cooperation of the Egyptian authorities, Israel has long imposed a complete siege on the already impoverished Gaza Strip, causing a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian sliver.

Gaza’s economy has been devastated in the wake of a long-imposed Israeli siege and Egypt’s sealing of the borders, leaving Palestinians hungry for basic goods and commodities.

Barhoum has advised Egyptian officials to stand against the economic blockade on Gaza and help open crossings for the 1.5 million people living in the coastal strip.

Egypt has started building a 10-kilometer underground super-strength steel wall along its border with the Gaza Strip to prevent Gazans from digging what has been described as survival tunnels which help them bring in their basic necessities like food and fuel.

Reports say US army engineers are assisting Egyptian officials in the construction of the wall which will go for 18 meters beneath the ground.

The completion of the wall is expected to take 18 months.

The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli siege ever since Hamas resistance movement, which does not recognize Israel, won Parliamentary elections in 2007.

(Press TV)