Egypt Discovers New Smuggling Tunnels Between Sinai, Gaza

Cairo, Egypt (AHN) - Egyptian security forces in the Sinai Peninsula on Saturday discovered six new tunnels allegedly used to smuggle weapons between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The tunnels were subsequently destroyed by Egyptian police.

The tunnels ran from both agricultural and residential areas, officials said. They were discovered as part of continued efforts to restrict the smuggling of weapons and other contraband between Gaza and Egypt.

Since Palestinian militants blew open a wall in the Rafah Border Crossing between the North African nation and Gaza, Egypt has been active in searching out and destroying the tunnels, which have been put back in use since the border was re-sealed in early February.

Egypt has said that despite an Israeli blockade against Gaza in response to rockets being fired into Israel that it will not close the small Mediterranean strip of land off from the outside world. The move has angered Israel.

However, on Saturday, Egyptian officials also noted that they have begun building a ten-foot high wall along the border with Gaza in an effort to stem the flow of weapons.