Special to WorldTribune.com

Gaza Strip officials say sea water pumped by Egypt from the Mediterranean to flood smuggling tunnels has done more damage that 20 years of Israeli bombs.

Egypt began the operation a few months ago, saying it has been pumping salt water from the Mediterranean into the tunnels in an effort to halt weapons smuggling to terrorists in northern Sinai. Some 2,500 tunnels have been constructed by Palestinians since Hamas gained control of Gaza in 2007.

A Palestinian official told Reuters on Oct. 4 that the flooding operation is also contaminating the wells that supply water to Gaza residents.

“One cubic meter of sea water pollutes 40 cubic meters of underground water,” said Tamer al-Sleibi, water department director of the Palestinian Environment Quality Authority.

Sleibi said construction of the tunnels weakened foundations of many homes in Gaza and that flooding the tunnels will make it worse. He also fears the sea water will spoil land in the area for agriculture and risk the health of Gaza residents as mosquitoes and other disease carriers breed once the water turns stagnant.

Palestinian tunnel builders said told Reuters that just 20 tunnels used for the smuggling of commercial goods remain after Egypt’s flooding operation. Cigarettes are the main contraband. The tunnel builders would not say how many weapons smuggling tunnels are left.

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