CAIRO: The Egyptian authorities on Tuesday revealed they had sent at least 250 Palestinians over the past few months, local newspapers reported. All those being sent back to Gaza have allegedly entered the North African country illegally, most via underground smuggling tunnels. The ministry of interior said that a number of those individuals deported were involved in “criminal activities, while others have connections to militant groups.” They did not elaborate further on the proposed connection with “militant” groups. According to the ministry, most of those that entered Egypt illegal used tunnels beneath the Sinai desert and the Gaza Strip. The ministry also added that they believe that some of those arrested in recent months were part of, or had links to, terrorist cells planning attacks in Egypt. It comes as Egypt continues to crackdown on alleged “terrorists” and has continued to try people in military courts. The deportations come as Israel continues to push Egypt to complete a steel wall along the Gaza border and move quicker to secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped in Gaza three years ago. The deportation highlights the poor treatment Palestinians face in Egyptian prisons. Last fall, 38-year-old Yussif Abu Zuhri, the brother of a leading Hamas official, was allegedly killed in prison due to mistreatment. Rights groups accuse Egyptian police of torturing the man to death. BM
