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AMIRA HASS / Thousands of Gazans near Rafah displaced by IAF bombing of tunnels
By Amira Hass, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Gaza, Israel News, Hamas 

Click here for more articles by Amira Hass

Rafah residents came to the realization on Tuesday that the air force has adopted a new method for destroying weapons smuggling tunnels in the town. On Monday, the military fired 10 missiles which are believed to have destroyed 10 tunnels. Palestinians say IAF drones fired seven missiles on Tuesday at the same number of tunnels.

The buzz of the drones and the shrieking missile fire interspersed with the exploding bombs were heard all day and all night. A total of 12 ordnances were counted on Tuesday, though 12 explosions were not heard.
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Instead of an explosion, people felt the ground shake beneath their feet. Witnesses in Rafah say the IAF has deployed bombs or grenades with a delay mechanism. These weapons are aimed at the mouths of the tunnels where they explode after rolling a number of meters. Residents of the Egyptian side of Rafah reported damage to their homes as a result of the explosions. The Egyptians say they received prior warnings from the Israelis before the weapons were fired.

All the residents of the neighborhoods adjacent to the tunnels - whose population is said to be in the thousands - have left their homes in recent days. Most are staying with relatives. Some 200 are being housed in an UNRWA-managed school. The UN body which is responsible for providing aid to refugees said it believes the numbers will only grow.

Nonetheless, it appears that some Palestinians have continued work in the tunnels, as can be attested by a number of commodities that have suddenly emerged, like bananas. In contrast, fuel and diesel - which have been supplied by Egypt through underground pipes - have been cut off. Gas tanks have also ceased to arrive. And the shortage is critical.

Even prior to the aerial assault, Gazans asked themselves if the hermetic closure of the border crossings would remain in place if the tunnels would be blown up or shut down completely. That question is being answered by this operation.

Over the last year, the tunnels have turned into the known, quasi-official alternative to the border crossings. As Israel placed greater restrictions on the quantity and the nature of the goods being imported into the Gaza Strip, the smuggling of goods has increasingly flourished.

Hamas has publicly declared that its key diplomatic goal is to allow for the permanent opening of the Rafah crossing, but Egypt is opposing any reopening that is not subject to the terms of the border crossing agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The agreement has three clauses which are currently not being observed: the presence of Palestinian security personnel which carries out orders issued by President Mahmoud Abbas; the stationing of European observes in Rafah; and the opening of all trade crossings with Israel.

How ironic that Egypt has opened the Rafah crossing in a way that it has never opened it. Indeed, some 50 wounded Palestinians have crossed through it thus far. Some of them will remain in Egypt while most will receive treatment in Saudi Arabia. On Friday, some wounded Palestinians will leave for Jordan.

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    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Disturbing trend
    Jewish Agency says Anti-Semitic acts in Jan. 2009 triple last year's records.
    After the war
    IDF gains in Gaza have softened Israel's stance on Shalit deal.
      1.   Gazans at Rafah 14:36  |  Jo Moor 01/01/09
      2.   Amira Hass is a modern-day Heroine 14:54  |  David James Vickery 01/01/09
      3.   #2 dickery dock continues to run up the clock 15:26  |  victor hardman 01/01/09
      4.   Wounded Gazans treated in Israel .No Mention 15:51  |  Yehuda 01/01/09
      5.   Wounded are treated in Israel ...Unreported 15:56  |  Yehuda 01/01/09
      6.   Displaced Gazans 15:58  |  Yehuda 01/01/09
      7.   INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES 16:40  |  Arie 01/01/09
      8.   GOOD NEWS, AMIRA 16:52  |  Brant 01/01/09
      9.   Citizens of Rafah elected Hamas 17:38  |  *BEN JABO 01/01/09
      10.   WORTH READING 17:58  |  CACHO 01/01/09
      11.   #8 Brant....will wonders never cease 18:03  |  Lynn 01/01/09
      12.   The Tunnels Serve A Humanitiarn Need 18:06  |  Timothy 01/01/09
      13.   Wrong headline 18:55  |  Ray 01/01/09
      14.   Timothy the cynic 19:03  |  Cacho 01/01/09
      15.   hass teach the gazanians the meaning of representative democracy 19:19  |  ralph 01/01/09
      16.   The first time a honest Amira is admitting 20:00  |  TOMY 01/01/09
      17.   How ironic indeed. Amira exposes the siege lie. 20:00  |  Joe Sittizen 01/01/09
      18.   Yehuda #5 20:37  |  Guido 01/01/09
      19.   Amira,have you given your apartment in Gaza to displaced pals? 02:17  |  Absolute Sweden 02/01/09
      20.   they were accomplices 02:24  |  Jeff 02/01/09
      21.   To Guido and others... 02:52  |  Didi 02/01/09
      22.   ...and why Israel is bombing those tunnels Amira...? 03:12  |  Elie 02/01/09
      23.   20 Jeff, Your recklessness and Israel`s will stop... 04:11  |  Dutch 02/01/09
      24.   I am politically incorrect, and hoplessly so. 04:36  |  Fortuna Benmayor 02/01/09
      25.   Re: #19, Sweden 04:49  |  Devorah 02/01/09
      26.   Amira, move to Sderot or Ashkelon 05:26  |  *BEN JABO 02/01/09
      27.   Dutch 06:15  |  Jasper 02/01/09
      28.   Amira move to a Moshav zekenim 06:30  |  Andrew 02/01/09
      29.   Wonderfull Haaretz and Amira Hass 07:12  |  Mark B. 02/01/09
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    Amir Oren: 'Decisive' Gaza offensive merely rehearsal for next crisis versus Iran
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    Netanyahu: Likud-led government wouldn't build new settlements
    Responses: 36
    Akiva Eldar: Saudi plan offers Israel united front with Arab states against Iran
    Responses: 10


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