EGYPT CONTINUES TO DESTROY GAZA TUNNELS

Cairo, 24 Rabi’ul Akhir 1435/24 February 2014 (MINA) – The Egyptian army has destroyed eight more tunnels along the border with the Palestinian Gaza Strip, an army spokesman said on Sunday.

“Almost 1,300 tunnels have been destroyed since January 2011,” army spokesman Ahmed Ali  claimed the army seized weapons including five remote detonators, Egypt’s Ahramonline as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

The tunnels has so far made a major alternative for the Palestinians who are suffered by  Israeli blockade since 2006. Therefore, since it was destroyed, the Gazans suffer more due to shortage of supply as well as thousands of unemployed workers since the destruction of the tunnels lead to the fuel crisis, and other key supplies commonly smuggled through the tunnels.

The demolition campaign has sparked alarm in the Gaza Strip and international which heavily relies on the underground tunnel network to smuggle goods, including building material and fuel, into the area which has been blockaded by Israel.

Egypt says the closing down of the tunnels, which started over a year ago and a half, is part of a crackdown against Islamist militants in the border Sinai Peninsula who authorities say have links to the Palestinian territory.(T/P03/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)