Hamas has overseen the tunnel industry, once said to employ 30,000
people. The sources said about half of the tunnels have come under Hamas
control.
"Some of the tunnels, particularly those for weapons and fuel smuggling,
are doing very well, and they are controlled mostly by Hamas," the source
said. "Most of the other tunnels have closed."
The sources said Egypt's project to build an underground steel barrier
threatened about 60 percent of the Gaza tunnels. They said the barrier would
be filled with sensors that could detect and destroy tunnels.
Palestinian smugglers, who have sought to export goods to Egypt, also
suspended construction of additional
tunnels. The sources said the smugglers did not expect construction to
resume until at least 2011.
The sources said thousands of workers were laid off from
the tunnel industry this year. They said thousands of other workers underwent a severe
salary cut and now receive no more than $20 per day, one-fifth of the rate
in 2008.