Gaza, January 7, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - Egyptian troops and Hamas loyalists opened fire along Gaza's border Wednesday, leaving an Egyptian soldier dead and more than 35 Gazans hurt.

The shooting, accompanied by a barrage of rocks, underlined the mounting tensions over Egypt's construction of underground steel.

Egypt says that securing its border with Gaza is a matter of national security. In the past, Egypt had been less unequivocal and tried to play down its role, alongside Israel, in enforcing Gaza's border blockade.

Wednesday's clashes began when several hundred Hamas supporters waving green Hamas flags marched toward Egyptian border to protest against the wall construction and Egyptian restrictions on an international aid convoy led by British legislator George Galloway.

Hamas security officers tried to break up the demonstration when it turned violent. While they were trying to disperse the crowd, shots were heard from the Egyptian side of the border.

Gunshots killed a 21-year-old Egyptian border guard stationed in a watch tower, according to Al Ahram newspaper which claimed that the Egyptian soldier Ahamed Shaban was killed by Hamas sniper. 35 Palestinians were also hit by the Egyptian gunfire, including 5 who were seriously wounded; two of them are in clinical death.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minster of Hamas-led government condoled the Egyptian government of the deceased soldier. He wished that all the injuries to recover calling on self-control.