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Last update - 22:03 11/08/2008
Hamas blames Egypt for deaths of 8 Palestinians in border tunnels
By Reuters
Tags: israel, smuggling, egypt 

Hamas blamed Egypt on Monday for the deaths of eight Palestinians, claiming it used water, gas and explosives to seal a network of tunnels under its border with the Gaza Strip.

Hamas Interior Ministry spokesman Ehab al-Ghsain criticized Egypt's anti-smuggling tactics as dangerous. Three Palestinians were crushed to death on Monday when their tunnel under the border collapsed, medics said. Five others suffocated on Aug. 1.

Smugglers have dug dozens of tunnels to move people and contraband, including arms and ammunition, between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
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Egypt and Israel have restricted the flow of goods into the coastal territory after Hamas took control of it in June 2007.

Egyptian security sources confirmed that Egypt had pumped gas into tunnels in recent months before sealing them off.

They said the gas was not harmful and was used to prevent Palestinians from trying to re-enter the tunnels.

The sources said Egyptian authorities typically informed their Palestinian counterparts once the tunnels were sealed.

Egypt's Interior Ministry had no immediate comment.

Hamas blew up the Rafah border crossing in January, allowing hundreds of thousands of Gazans to pour into Egypt to stock up on supplies. Egypt resealed the border and has stepped up patrols to prevent another breach.

The United States and Israel have pressed Egypt to seal the tunnels to stop militants from smuggling weapons. U.S. experts have been helping Egyptian security forces look for tunnels.

"We understand the American and Israeli pressure on Egypt but that does not justify the killing of people in such a manner," Ghsain said.

He defended Gaza's tunnel network, saying it was a result of the blockade.

"Once the Rafah crossing opens and the blockade is lifted, the tunnel issue will be resolved," he said.

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      1.   If these 8 Pals were not in a tun nel they would be alive today 17:36  |  Kipperraes 11/08/08
      2.   If these 8 Pals were not in a tun nel they would be alive today 17:36  |  Kipperraes 11/08/08
      3.   EVERY NOW AND THEN HAMAS WILL TAKE THE TIME TO BLAME HIS BROTHER: 17:47  |  glenna 11/08/08
      4.   What they didn`t blame Israel? 18:00  |  Yonatan 11/08/08
      5.   HEWY GEE. IT WAS NOT IDF 18:01  |  ANUAR AL SADAT 11/08/08
      6.   my oh my maybe eqypt is getting serious 18:04  |  ralph 11/08/08
      7.   The blockade keeps Gazans employed and HAPPY! 18:50  |  AliciaYasmeen 11/08/08
      8.   Criminals blaming the victim for closing the door to his house 18:55  |  Voice of Reason 11/08/08
      9.   Hamas Blames Egypt 19:10  |  Paladin 11/08/08
      10.   IT WAS NOT OUR MUSLIM EGYPTIAN BROTHERS 19:19  |  indrajaya 11/08/08
      11.   It cannot be Egypt. Hamas is lying 21:04  |  indrajaya 11/08/08
      12.   #4 23:24  |  Gisele 11/08/08
      13.   Alicia yasmeen they are far from happy 23:28  |  Gisele 11/08/08
      14.   We can not blame egyptians but Gutless Pharaon Mubarak 23:30  |  Gisele 11/08/08
      15.   #11 I know you are not indrajaya 23:33  |  Gisele 11/08/08
      16.   Thanks Egypt: their deaths prevented Israeli deaths 01:46  |  Conroy 12/08/08
      17.   One State Works! 01:52  |  Abbushuki 12/08/08
      18.   The bizzaro logic of Hamas 08:27  |  Dan 12/08/08
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