Smuggling tunnel (Archive photo)
Photo: AFP
2 killed in Gaza smuggling tunnel
Men die during attempt to smuggle fuel from Egypt into Strip; some fuel apparently spills, releasing fumes
A Palestinian medical official says two people have died in a smuggling tunnel under the Gaza-Egypt border and five are missing.
Area residents said Sunday that the men were trying to smuggle fuel into Gaza and that some of it apparently spilled, releasing fumes.
Palestinian Health Ministry official Dr. Moawiya Hassanain says the bodies have not yet been retrieved and that he has no word on the cause of death.
Dozens of tunnels run under the Gaza-Egypt border. The smugglers have become increasingly daring since Israel and Egypt closed their borders with Gaza last year, following the violent Hamas takeover of the territory.
Israel began scaling fuel supplies in January to pressure militant groups to halt attacks. Fuel shortages have spawned a black market trade.
