JERUSALEM, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter on Thursday ordered to increase the state of alert near the border between Israel and Egypt, one day after the chaos occurred among thousands of Gazans following the Israeli blockade imposed on the territory.

    Local daily Yedioth Ahronoth's website quoted Dichter as saying that the higher alert level is necessary due to "the swarms of people who left Gaza towards Sinai and the terror alerts indicating a terror attack against Israeli may originate from Sinai."

    On Wednesday, thousands of Palestinians crossed from Gaza into Egypt after Hamas militants detonated bombs under the cement fence on the borders and destroyed part of it.

    The chaos came after Israel decided on Jan. 17 to tighten a siege that has been imposed on Gaza since mid-June last year, barring fuels and basic food products, in retaliation to the frequent rocket attacks from the Hamas-ruled coastal strip. All crossings leading to Gaza have been closed down.

    After the Wednesday chaos, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said in a statement that "it is the responsibility for Egypt to ensure that the border operates properly."

    However, a spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry strongly rejected the idea, condemning Israel for thinking of giving up all responsibility for Gaza, including supplying electricity.

    Meanwhile, Israeli High Court of Justice called an emergency session on Thursday to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip following the blockade imposed on the territory.

    The session is slated to take place on Sunday and judges will deliberate appeals submitted by Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups.