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Sources: Hamas arms smuggling never stopped during IDF op in Gaza By Anshel Pfeffer Tags: gaza, israel news, hamas, IDF RAFAH, EGYPT - Although the Israeli air force bombed the Phildelphi corridor along the border thousands of times during the course of the Cast Lead campaign, smugglers acknowledge that some tunnels running under the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip have remained in use, and were in operation even during the fighting. Contrary to media reports, the Israeli air force apparently did not use more powerful bunker-busting bombs to destroy the tunnels, rather than regular explosives. Tunnels lined with wood reinforcement have been especially resistant to air force bombing raids. Smugglers manage to transfer merchandise, drugs and weapons through tunnels dug under the Philadelphi corridor. According to residents of Rafah, the reinforced tunnels were even used during the Israeli military offensive to smuggle in a group of German doctors who wanted to provide medical care to Gaza residents. In addition to Palestinian smugglers, Bedouin from Sinai are also involved in the trade through the tunnels. One of the Bedouin in the area insists that the smuggling will continue because they have no other way to earn a living. The Egyptian police operating in the area periodically blow up the Palestinian-built tunnels when they become aware of them, but they reportedly turn a blind eye to Bedouin subterranean smuggling routes. Advertisement One resident of the area claims that Egyptian President Mubarak knows not to mess with the Bedouin in Sinai because he knows that terrorist attacks in recent years at tourist hotels in the Sinai were not the work of Al-Qaida but of Bedouin. He claims that they were sending the Egyptian government a message that Egypt should drop a proposed plan to move Sinai Bedouin away from the border. The Bedouin reportedly move around almost unhindered by the Egyptian police. In the face of prior attempts to limit their activity, the Bedouin rioted and even attack Egyptian police installations. Despite indications that the Egyptian police have frequently cooperated with the smugglers, sometimes in exchange for payments of money, local residents insist that when higher-ranking Egyptian police become aware of the tunnels, they rush to blow them up, preferring a professional promotion to a bribe. Since the implementation of the cease-fire, the Egyptians have opened their border with the Gaza Strip to shipments of medical personnel and supplies as well as a limited number of foreign journalists, but they then hindered the entry of additional representatives of the foreign press who have been waiting at the border. Even during the course of the fighting, Israel permitted Egyptian ambulances to enter Gaza. One paramedic acknowledged that he didn't worry about being attacked by Israeli forces during the hostilities because their entry into Gaza was coordinated with Israel. "We were more afraid of Hamas," he said, "because they might be angry at us because of the Egyptian's refusal to open their side of the border." The Palestinians continue to press Egypt to expand access through the Rafah crossing. The Egyptians have also clamped down on expressions of Palestinian nationalism by Palestinian living on the Egyptian side of the border. Ironically, near the border on the Egyptian side, the houses tend to be somewhat larger and more elaborate. The relative wealth has been attributed to income from smuggling. Related articles: Livni: Israel ready to cooperate on Gaza aid `as far as needed` EU to pressure Israel to open Gaza borders to allow in aid Israel denies using uranium-infused bombs during Gaza op Bookmark to del.icio.us   Waltz with Oscar Critically acclaimed Israeli film 'Waltz with Bashir' nominated for an oscar. Not convinced Hamas say Obama represents no change, will fail in Mideast.   1.   Israel in control of the Egypt-Gaza border crossing. 08:11  |  Jean Van Daem 22/01/09   2.   Hamas Rearming Already 09:15  |  Michael 22/01/09   3.   You can`t keep a good man up 09:19  |  Clickfool 22/01/09

Read & React Gideon Levy: Gaza war ended in utter failure for Israel Responses: 219 Italian paper: Gazans say Hamas kept them in homes used by gunmen Responses: 140 Editorial: Israel should launch its own probe into Gaza war crimes Responses: 50 Yossi Melman: Obama plan to talk buys Iran time for nuclear program Responses: 44 Israel Harel: Like in Lebanon, IDF displayed mediocrity in Gaza Responses: 47 More Headlines 23:28 Obama picks George Mitchell as Mideast envoy 'to make Gaza truce last' 21:07 Olmert to Clinton: Israel will do all it can to prevent Gaza smuggling 00:11 Hamas: Obama does not represent change 20:40 Italian paper: Gazans say Hamas kept them in homes used by gunmen 01:12 Hamas calls for Fatah reconciliation, vows to continue fighting Israel 19:06 Olmert: Gaza op spurred efforts to expedite Shalit release 19:56 Obama spy chief choice: U.S. intel should try to work with Iran 11:07 ANALYSIS / Obama plan to negotiate buys Iran time to complete nuclear program 04:19 Gideon Levy / Gaza war ended in utter failure for Israel 19:13 Oslo parties demand censure of envoy who likened Gaza op to Holocaust 17:08 Israel's 'Waltz with Bashir,' on 1982 Lebanon War, nominated for Oscar 22:03 Oxford students hold sit-in to demand university condemns Gaza op 21:05 Obama issues order to close secret overseas CIA prisons 01:45 Sources: Hamas arms smuggling never stopped during IDF op in Gaza 13:27 Palestinians: Shell fired from Israeli gunboat wounds two in Gaza 01:46 Israel to open Gaza border crossing to journalists on Friday 19:56 Hamas pledges to begin distributing cash to Gazans on Sunday 14:53 Israeli student collects 10 truckloads of basic aid for Gazans 18:31 Jewish groups condemn reprinting of Nazi-era newspapers in Germany Previous Editions Select Day 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 19 jan 18 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 12 jan 11 jan 09 jan

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