The state-run al-Arram newspaper reported over the weekend that Egyptian officials are expressing growing concerns over Hamas’ smuggling tunnel network, reporting there are at least an estimated 1,200 tunnels along the Gaza/Rafiach border.

Egyptian officials are less concerned with the security than they are with lost revenue, reporting each tunnel generates NIS 700,000 daily, black money funds. An astounding 70,000 Gazans are making a living in connection with a link in the tunnel smuggling network, the report adds.

Egyptian officials are fearful; that the growing tunnel network will challenge Cairo’s sovereignty over the area and pose a threat to state security. Officials are also critical of the Hamas regime in Gaza, for permitting smugglers to regularly fire at Egyptian security personnel along the border.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)