Cairo, February 10 (RHC)-- The Egyptian army has demolished seven tunnels under the border with the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to an Israeli blockade for over six years. 

The tunnels were destroyed over the weekend as a part of the military-appointed government's campaign of tightening the noose around the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.  Sources say large quantities of clothes, pesticides, and other goods were found in a vacant house near one of the tunnels.

The Egyptian army has destroyed hundreds of tunnels since the ouster of the country's first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi.  The tunnels are the only lifeline for Gazans living under the Israeli siege.  Palestinians use the tunnels to bring essential supplies, such as food, cooking gas, medicines, petrol and even livestock, into the Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian military often closes the Rafah crossing, which is the only border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip that is not controlled by Israel.  Experts say the closure can have severe repercussions on the civilian population in Gaza.

The 1.7 million Palestinians of the Gaza Strip are living in what is called the world's largest open-air prison as Israel retains full control of the airspace, territorial waters, and border crossings of the territory.

Gaza has been blockaded by the Israeli regime since June 2007, a situation which has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.