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Photo: AP
IDF soldier inspecting tunnel near Rafah
Photo: AP

Tunnel collapses under Gaza-Egypt border

Palestinian man said trapped underground after tunnel collapses in Philadelphi route; Palestinian security officials say man involved in racketeering activities

A tunnel collapsed on Thursday under the Gaza-Egypt border injuring an unspecified number of Palestinians and leaving a man trapped underground.

 

A Palestinian security official said the men are not affiliated with armed groups known for running arms smuggling operations using tunnels. The official said the injured men were racketeers.

 

Weeks ago a tunnel collapsed in the same area injuring a number of al-Aqsa activists and killing one.

 

The issue of arms smuggling from Egypt into the Gaza Strip will be raised on Thursday by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo.

 

Olmert will reiterate Israeli demands that Egypt deploys more troops along the border with Gaza to curb arms smuggling.

 

The prime minister will also ask Mubarak to reverse an Egyptian habit of allowing Hamas officials to carry large sums of cash into Gaza through the Rafah crossing.

 

Olmert will argue that unobstructed, arms smuggling from Egypt will only strengthen Hamas, which is against Israeli and Egyptian interests.

 

The two leaders will also discuss Egyptian proposal for a regional summit to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.04.07, 12:27
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