(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Infuriated at the attack on Egyptian soldiers on Sunday evening, hundreds of Rafah residents (on the Egyptian side of the Egypt-Gaza border) gathered at the Sadat Square and blocked the road, preventing trucks heading to the port of Rafah and tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.

Some of the protesters told Al-Ahram's Arabic news portal that they refuse seeing the Egyptian army insulted, and that they would sacrifice their blood "to defend the Egyptian soldiers."

The site also reported that hundreds more headed to the Arish hospital, where the injured soldiers were admitted, to donate blood.

16 soldiers were killed and seven injured in northern Sinai near the Egypt-Gaza border on Sunday evening after an explosion that was reportedly a result of a car blast.

Hamas, the Palestinian faction which rules in the besieged Gaza Strip, has condemned the attacks and denied any involvement.

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