The tunnels under the Philadelphi Corridor between Gaza and Egypt, used in the
past to smuggle arms and supplies from Sinai into Gaza, are now an important
lifeline of supplies for Sinai residents facing acute shortages because of the
turmoil in Egypt, the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported
Thursday.
According to the paper, which supports Hizbullah, traders in
control of the tunnels have “been working for days” smuggling bread and food in
the “opposite direction” – from Gaza into Egypt – because of “supply
disruptions” from Cairo to Sinai.
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Israel has been arguing for months – that “Gaza’s markets are no longer
experiencing a shortage in most food” products since Israel eased the blockade
of the region in June.
The smuggling out of Gaza does not impact the
supplies inside the Strip, those running the tunnels were quoted as
saying.
This is not the first time the tunnels have been used to smuggle
goods into Egypt.
Western officials said in the fall that Israeli
products, specifically fruits and vegetables, were making their way through the
tunnels to Egyptian markets.
