Egypt begins to install cameras, sensors at Gaza border

01/02/2009| IslamWeb

Egypt has begun installing cameras and motion sensors along its border against the Gazan tunnels, security sources said on Saturday.

Gazans live under heavy Israel siege for a long time and Egypt still insists on not to opening the only Gaza border crossing in a move condemned by Muslims around the world in protests, leaving Gazans desperate to digging tunnels underground and risking their lives.

"Cables that are part of a tunnel detection device are being installed along the Gaza-Egypt border," a security source said, adding the cables were being installed from south of Rafah to the Mediterranean coast.

The source said some cameras and sensors had already been installed, and the cameras would be connected by the cables.

For the 1.5 million people in the Gaza Strip, the tunnels have become a main source of goods, including fuel, since Israel tightened its embargo after Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007.

Israel has pressed on Egypt and Western countries to destroy tunnels and prevent new constructions of them, saying Gazans used them for arm smuggling.

Israel launched on Dec. 27 a massive offensive in Gaza, killing more than 1300 Palestinians, a third of them children, and wounded at least 5300.

Israel targeted hospitals, schools, mosques and government buildings and destroyed infrastructure system in Gaza, leaving Palestinians without electricity, gas and power.

Egypt, which has kept its Rafah border crossing with the territory largely closed, has agreed to help stop the tunnel "smuggling" with international technical assistance.

PHOTO CAPTION

A Palestinian surveys a destroyed tunnel near the Gaza-Egypt border in the southern Gaza Strip January 28, 2009.

Reuters