Egypt detains 3 Palestinians at Sinai tunnels

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After gunmen killed 16 Egyptian border guards on Sunday, Egypt closed
its border with Gaza and sealed smuggling tunnels that provide a lifeline
to the besieged territory. (MaanImages/File)
EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma’an) — Egyptian security forces on Monday detained three Palestinians as they tried to return to the Gaza Strip via tunnels under the border in northern Sinai, officials said.

Security sources in Rafah told Ma’an the group had entered Egypt via the smuggling tunnel network, and were captured while trying to get back to Gaza.

After gunmen killed 16 Egyptian border guards on Sunday, Egypt closed its border with the Gaza Strip and sealed smuggling tunnels that provide a lifeline to the besieged territory.

Egyptian officials have vaguely accused Palestinians of involvement in the attack in the Sinai but have yet to identify suspects. Gaza’s leadership says it has not seen any proof that Palestinians from the territory were involved, and factions have roundly condemned the attack.

The Egyptian state newspaper al-Ahram said on Friday some 150 tunnels had been destroyed. The tunnels are believed to number some 1,000.

A senior Fatah official said Saturday that the Palestinian Authority supports Egypt’s efforts to shut down a tunnel network under the border with the Gaza Strip.

Hamas leader Salah al-Bardawil immediately hit back decrying the PA position as « despicable opportunism which contradicts all values and ethics and national responsibilities. »

He said Hamas is prepared to shut down smuggling tunnels under its shared border if Egypt opens the Rafah crossing permanently.

« The tunnels are a popular and compulsory way to lift the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, » Al-Bardawil told reporters.