(AKI) - Palestinian and Israeli security sources believe there are approximately 15 active tunnels in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and Egypt. The tunnels are being used by various militant organizations to smuggle arms, drugs and people, or to transport and lay explosives, daily Haaretz quoted the sources as saying. There are at least 10 other tunnels in the area that are not in use for "technical" reasons, the sources said.The Rafah tunnels are being controlled by the most powerful clans in the area, who consider them a very lucrative source of income, Haaretz reported. Palestinian security forces have identified a new trend in the use of the tunnels: suspected Palestinian criminals are increasingly using the tunnels to escape abroad, according to Palestinian security forces. In some cases, criminals in custody are managing to escape along them with the help of their jailers.
Earlier this week, Palestinian security forces uncovered a tunnel in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, close to the border with Egypt. During the operation, Palestinian smugglers opened fire on security force members.
The commander of the Preventive Security force in Rafah, Yussef Siam, told Haaretz that as part of a broader anti-tunnel offensive, the tunnel was blocked using a new technique. The security forces dig every 10 meters or so along the tunnel, and then pour reinforced concrete into the holes.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has demanded that intensive efforts be undertaken to counter the tunnel problem, the senior officer said, adding that Palestinian security forces need sophisticated technology to uncover the tunnels and their efforts were being carried out in coordination with the Egyptian authorities.
Unrest in the Gaza Strip, particularly the southern parts appeared to be the focus of a massive deployment of Palestinian police Wednesday night.
Thousands of Palestinian police reportedly began deploying in Gaza City as part of the first phase of a security plan approved by the cabinet, a Palestinian official said.
The first duties of the police would be to direct traffic and fight crime, officials said. The overall goal is to put an end to the chaos, clan warfare and violent infighting that has plagued Gaza, officials said, quoted by Haaretz.