Egyptian security forces on Thursday demolished three underground tunnels used for smuggling activities across Egypt-Gaza borders. The tunnels, located at Brahma and Ahrash regions in Rafah, have been used for smuggling diesel fuel, gas cylinders, foodstuff, and home appliances, a security source said. While the tunnel at the inhabited Brahma area was filled up with rocks and sand, the other one in Ahrash was blown up, the source added, noting that Hamas authorities were informed in advance so as to make sure the tunnels were empty of smugglers. In addition to providing a lifeline for the 1.5 million inhabitants of Gaza, the tunnels are also seen as a conduit for weapons for militants. A thousand underground tunnels are thought to have been dug in recent years along the 13-km border between Egypt and Gaza, securing millions of dollars in profit for Palestinian workers, entrepreneurs and transport agents. People used the tunnels to smuggle goods into Gaza after Israel imposed a blockade on the territory after the Palestinian group Hamas took power in 2007. The tunnels are usually 25 meters deep and more than 600 meters long, according to press reports. They link open areas inside Gaza with farms and houses on the Egyptian side. Israel has frequently accused Hamas of using the tunnels to smuggle weapons. Translated from the Arabic Edition
