Gaza forms Committee to discuss intentions for tunnel removal

Governmental sources confirmed that there is a plan in place to form a Public Governmental Committee in order to discuss the intentions of the Egyptian authorities to destroy the tunnels on theborder between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, in a statement given to ArabsToday. The Tunnels are considered as one of the most popular ways to transport goods to Gaza while the blockade is imposed by the Israeli occupation. The sources also revealed that the Committee’s main task is to make a quick study on the Egyptian decision to destroy the tunnels and the mechanism used in light of the siege imposed on Gaza. Additionally, sources confirmed that the Committee’s members will represent different organizations and trade unions and a number of factions, explaining that the committee will try to contact all different parties. Sources also indicated that the Palestinian government has already sent an inquiry to Egyptian authorities and they received a response which completely denied the decision. Witnesses confirmed on Thursday that Egyptian authorities brought a number of drills to the border. Media sources revealed on Thursday that Egypt began to transfer heavy drilling tools to Rafah.  On the other hand, Major General Abdul Wahab Mambrok, Governor of North Sinai denied on Thursday the reports that say there are tools on the borders. Mambrok said that the tools sent to the borders have nothing to do with the destructions of the tunnels. He added that the elimination of tunnels cannot be done in such circumstances due to the nature of the region, stressing that there are no tools on the borders that can actually do such a job. He also added that work on the steel wall was also stopped before the revolution of 25th January and that there are no plans to carry on further works anytime soon. Furthermore, Egyptian authorities destroyed about seven tunnels in the refugee camp Yabna, Rafah, two weeks ago. Witnesses said that Egyptian authorities had also exploded a tunnel just before midnight near Salah Alddin Gate in Rafah. Witnesses added that during the latest bombing of tunnels loud explosions were heard in all parts of Rafah in Egypt and Palestine and smoke was seen rising from the border. Palestinian security sources confirmed that the tunnels were free of workers and that there were no injuries recorded.