The tunnels that run from Egypt into Gaza are operating in full view of the Egyptians. The Israelis know what is going on. Now and then, a few tunnels are destroyed by Egypt but business is too good to let them all go. Besides, as I saw myself on the border, they remain a life-line to Gaza, bringing in virtually all essential goods for the 1.5 million citizens. This is a game played by all sides.
Very rarely, like today, Israel shows it’s tough on terrorism. Nothing will change; the tunnels aren’t going anywhere, unless the siege is lifted:
Israeli warplanes bombed a smuggling tunnel along the Gaza-Egypt border early Monday in response to Palestinian rocket and mortar fire, in a brief flare-up of violence at a time of relative quiet in the volatile Palestinian territory.
Such exchanges of fire, once routine, have become rare in recent months. Rocket fire from Hamas-controlled Gaza has largely subsided since a fierce Israeli offensive against militants early this year.
There were no reports of casualties in any of the attacks.