Israel war planes have launched an airstrike on the southern Gaza Strip, targeting Palestinian tunnels across the border between the blockaded enclave and Egypt.

Missiles from Israeli aircraft destructed two tunnels early on Monday, but left no casualties, AFP quoted Palestinian security officials as saying.

Israel frequently strikes the tunnels in the Hamas-run coastal enclave while an Israeli blockade has pushed the populated territory on the verge of a humanitarian crisis with almost half of its 1.5 million residents depending on food aid handouts.

Tel Aviv’s crippling siege has left Gazans with no other option but to set up a network of tunnels on the border with Egypt, which in collaboration with Israel keeps the Rafah border crossing — the only terminal not in Israel control — sealed off.

Israel accuses the Palestinians of using the burrows to smuggle weapons for the resistance movements in the region.

But the Palestinians dismiss the claim, saying the tunnels are used to push in Gazans’ very basic needs, including food and fuel.

Israel eased its land blockade of the Gaza Strip to soothe the international outrage sparked by its deadly attack on an aid convoy on May 31, while its naval blockade remain fast in place. It has vowed to stop any other aid ship trying to break the siege on Gaza.

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla was stormed in international waters by Israeli navy commandos who killed nine Turkish activists onboard the civilian convoy.

Egypt also made an effort to brush away a picture where Cairo is viewed as Israel’s main accomplice in its siege of Gaza and indefinitely opened its Rafah crossing.

(Press TV)