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Report: Egypt destroys 10 Gaza smuggling tunnels
Ma'an/Agencies -- Egyptian security forces destroyed 10 tunnels used to smuggle goods into the besieged Gaza Strip after a tip off from an arrested smuggler last week, AFP reported on Monday.According to an Egyptian security source who spoke to AFP, the tunnels were found north of the Egyptian border town of Rafah late on Sunday after a smuggler named Muhammed Ash-Shaer informed the forces of their location. The tunnels were then immediately destroyed, the source told AFP. According to the report, Ash-Shaer was arrested last week at the Rafah border crossing as he tried to enter Gaza on false documents. Ash-Shaer was one of the most wanted smugglers in the area and could provide vital information on smuggling networks operating in Egypt, the official told AFP. Tunnels provide a lifeline to Palestinians in Gaza who have lived under an Israeli-imposed siege for over two years. Israel, with the cooperation of Egypt, has blockaded the Gaza Strip since the Hamas movement took full control of Gaza in June 2007. Today, the tunnels are the only reliable means of importing goods into Gaza. They are used to bring in food, fuel, toys, cigarettes, and any other items made scarce by the siege. Weapons are also reportedly brought in through the tunnel. US-backed Egyptian forces have attempted to clamp down on the tunnel trade. Posted by: Fred 2009-09-15 |
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