GAZA CITY: Egyptian security forces destroyed on Tuesday a tunnel running under the border with the Gaza Strip and used by smugglers, security sources said
Palestinian security forces discovered two underground tunnels along the Gaza Strip border with Egypt on Tuesday that they suspect were dug to smuggle weapons and other contraband.
One of the tunnels, dug 25 meters underground, reached Egypt. Another was under construction and had not yet crossed the border, security officials said.
Security forces said they suspected the tunnels were dug for criminal purposes, not militant activity, but noted their investigation was still in a preliminary stage.
Smuggling of weapons between Egypt and Gaza is not uncommon. Since Israel pulled out of Gaza last summer, turning over control of the border to Egypt and the Palestinians, cross-border smuggling of weapons and explosives has increased considerably, the Israeli military says. AP
