Egypt discovers 17 smuggling tunnels to Gaza
By DPA, IANSWednesday, August 11, 2010
EL ARISH - Egyptian security forces said Wednesday they discovered 17 tunnels used to smuggle construction materials into the Gaza strip, security sources said.
The tunnels were found at various points along the Sinai Peninsula’s small border with Gaza. The main goods going through the underground passages were steel, cement, and similar supplies, the sources in Sinai said.
Following the deaths of nine Turkish activists in late May who were part of a flotilla aiming at breaking the blockade on the coastal territory, Israel and Egypt have relaxed somewhat the restrictions on Gaza.
Israel now lets in more food items and some construction materials, but the building supplies are only for the United Nations, leaving regular Gazans dependant on the tunnels.
The blockade on Gaza was tightened after the Islamist Hamas movement took control of the territory in 2007. Since then all exports have also been banned and this has yet to be lifted.
Egypt has kept its border crossing at Rafah open since May, the longest period in the history of the blockade, to allow Palestinians with the appropriate paperwork to cross back and forth, though many say they are still denied movement.
