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Egypt closes dozens of tunnels used by Gaza smugglers By Avi Issacharoff Tags: Gaza Strip, Egypt, Israel Amid rising tensions between Cairo and Gaza over the closure of the Rafah border crossing and Hamas' intransigence in negotiations for the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, Egypt has recently sealed dozens of tunnels that were used to smuggle goods and weapons from the Sinai to the Strip. According to Palestinian sources, Egyptian security forces have located and destroyed at least 40 active tunnels in the past few weeks. According to some accounts, the Egyptians pumped poisonous fumes through some of the tunnels, to harm anyone inside them and to flush out smugglers from other tunnels connected to the ones discovered. On Sunday, five Palestinian rescuers were wounded after entering a partially collapsed tunnel in search of five of their fellow countrymen whose fate was unknown after the tunnel caved in on them. Advertisement The Palestinian tunnel count corresponds with reports by the Egyptians, whose army announced that it had destroyed yet another new tunnel almost every day for the past few weeks. But Palestinians sources maintain that, despite the crackdown, smuggling has hardly diminished in volume. The sources also said that the demand for certain goods had greatly diminished after Israel opened up the border crossings with Gaza, allowing goods to reach the civilian population, as required by Israel's cease-fire agreement with Hamas. The clampdown could serve to escalate the mounting tensions between Egypt and Hamas, who are now at odds over Egypt's continued refusal to open the Rafah crossing, which connects the Strip to the Sinai. The Egyptians, in turn, are reportedly frustrated by Hamas' refusal to demonstrate greater flexibility in the Egyptian-brokered talks for Shalit's release in the framework of a prisoner exchange. The Islamist organization is demanding that 1,000 Palestinians be released from Israeli prisons, some of whom were convicted of killing Israeli citizens. Israel has so far rejected these demands. On Sunday, Hamas' prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, reiterated Hamas' uncompromising stance on this issue, saying that the organization would not back down from its demands "under any terms or circumstances." Hamas' intransigence on this issue, Palestinian sources said, has resulted in Egypt delaying discussions for the reopening of the Rafah crossing, which Cairo is expected to hold with representatives from the European Union, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Also Sunday, Egypt sent around 500 riot police to its border with the Gaza Strip, fearing that Hamas supporters would try to storm the frontier in a repeat of the January exodus, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians crossed into Egypt after Hamas militants breached the border wall in defiance of an Israeli-led blockade of the Strip. Egypt reacted in a similar manner last month, when hundreds of Palestinians clashed with Egyptian forces as they tried to force their way into Sinai. In the rally which took place Sunday, hundreds of demonstrators demanded Egypt open the border to allow humanitarian cases to cross. A Hamas parliamentarian, Ahmed Baher, told the crowd in a warning to Cairo that Hamas "would not allow anyone to starve the Palestinian people." He also said Egypt had closed the border because Hamas is refusing to recognize Israel's right to exist. As tensions rise, Egypt closes dozens of tunnels used by Gaza smugglers Egypt uncovers three tunnels on border with Gaza strip Five Palestinians suffocate to death after Egypt blows up tunnel Bookmark to del.icio.us   Basic training IDF soldiers who taught Georgian troops keep an eye on the recent conflict. Boot camp 200 Palestinian teens graduate from Hamas summer school, prepare for battle with Israel.   1.   Arab `Brotherly` Love Quarrals 04:22  |  David P 11/08/08   2.   Thank You Egypt, saving the World anarchy 05:27  |  Fred 11/08/08   3.   The Arabs of Gaza. 08:29  |  Jean Van Daem 11/08/08

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