"Very few tunnels are operating on a steady basis," a Palestinian source
said. "Most have been abandoned."
The sources said about 100 to 150 tunnels were still operating between
Gaza and Sinai. They said these tunnels, most of them controlled by the
Hamas regime, were built underneath the Egyptian barrier, said to extend
up to 30 meters below the surface.
A Palestinian tunnel operator, identified only as Abu Ahmed, said any
new tunnels must be dug much deeper than their predecessors. But he said the
profitability of the tunnels has dropped sharply amid Israel's decision to
allow the import of construction material and other goods to the Gaza Strip,
at prices often 50 percent cheaper than in Egypt.
"Residents are waiting for Israel to allow cement into Gaza, which they
prefer over Egyptian-smuggled cement because of its superior quality," Abu
Ahmed said. "It's also cheaper at 400 shekels [$110]."
Tunnel operators said many Gaza merchants have stopped ordering goods
through the tunnel network. They said the merchants would rather wait to see
whether the goods would arrive legally and much cheaper from Israel.
"The tunnels that bring in weapons and goods banned by Israel are still
operating," the source said. "But they are meant to benefit Hamas and the
militias."