On Thursday, an Egyptian security official said three Palestinians were injured when a tunnel used by smugglers collapsed on the border between Egypt and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

The incident occurred on Wednesday on the Rafah border and the three Palestinians were hospitalized in Egypt for respiratory problems, the official said.

The three injured men managed to crawl out of the tunnel onto Egyptian territory.

They are aged 19, 22 and 26.

Various tunnels have collapsed in recent months claiming the lives of more than 40 people.

These tunnels are used to smuggle a variety of contraband supplies into Gaza by Egyptians and Palestinians.

The top Israeli defense ministry negotiator is in Cairo in an effort to cement the fragile cease fire with Hamas.

Israel alleges that Hamas receives weapons through these tunnels. However, according to Egypt, no weapons are being smuggled through these tunnels.

Egypt