Middle East News
Egypt destroys six smuggling tunnels to Gaza
Jan 21, 2011, 12:31 GMT
El-Arish, Egypt - Egyptian security forces have destroyed six tunnels to the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the year, officials said Friday.
The tunnels were being used to smuggle food, petrol and construction materials into the coastal strip, which is under a blockade. One of them was large enough to smuggle cars.
In addition to providing a lifeline for the 1.5 million inhabitants of Gaza, the tunnels are also seen as a conduit for weapons for militants.
Israel tightened its blockade of the Gaza Strip after the fundamentalist Hamas movement took control of the territory in 2007.
Egypt has faced domestic criticism for its destruction of tunnels and its partial blockade of Gaza.
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