Egyptian border guards have unearthed approximately 500 kilograms of TNT near the border with the Gaza Strip, officials said.

According to the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the TNT was hidden in 10 sacks near the Rafah border crossing.

One official reported that the TNT was discovered in a deserted area some 600 yards from Gaza's crossing into Egypt.

Israel has called on Egypt to do more in order to stop the illegal flow of weapons across the porous desert border with Gaza. Cairo maintains it is increasing personnel in the area in an attempt to curtail the smuggling.

A number of tunnels have been destroyed by Egyptian security forces in recent months, which the Egyptian government says has greatly reduced Palestinian militants access to weapons materials.