Middle East News
Egyptian man killed in Gaza smuggling tunnel fire
Feb 20, 2009, 17:16 GMT
Al-Arish, Egypt - One man was killed and another was injured on Friday when a fire broke out in a tunnel used to smuggle petrol from Egypt to the Gaza Strip, a security source told Deutsche Presse- Agentur dpa.
The tunnel, which was used to smuggle petrol into the Gaza Strip through plastic pipes, caught fire on Friday morning, the security source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Mohammed Awad al-Shaer, 24, died as soon as he arrived at the hospital in al-Arish, the nearest large town to Egypt's border with the Gaza Strip. His brother Sami, though badly injured, managed to escape from the hospital.
The tunnels - which are used to smuggle basic supplies, drugs, and weapons into the Gaza Strip in defiance of a blockade that has been in place almost without interruption since Hamas won elections in Gaza in 2006 - have been a consistent source of dispute between Egypt and Israel.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Middle East
- 1. Jerusalem prelate tells Arab Spring youth to have confidence
- 2. More than 100 killed in Syria ahead of ceasefire deadline
- 3. At least 43 killed in Syria, despite UN criticism
- 4. 19 killed in Syria as ceasefire deadline approaches
- 5. Pilgrims flock to Jerusalem for Easter, Passover
Older Talkback
