Security sources said Egyptian security forces renewed patrols and
counter-smuggling operations along the 14-kilometer border with the Gaza
Strip. They said the security forces have been searching for smuggling
convoys and tunnels.
"There has been a resumption of operations that were suspended since
the protests [in February]," a security source said.
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On June 2, security forces found and sealed the opening of three tunnels
from the Sinai to the Gaza Strip. The tunnels were located near a
residential neighborhood north of the divided city of Rafah.
The sources said nobody was arrested in the Egyptian operation. They
said security forces did not confiscate any smuggled goods.
In 2010, Egypt suspended construction of the last phase of a border
security barrier. Palestinian smugglers have asserted that the steel barrier
was penetrated, which enabled smuggling to and from the Gaza Strip.
The sources said Palestinian smugglers continued to operate despite
Egypt's decision to open the border with the Gaza Strip. On June 6, a
22-year-old worker,
identified as Sami Nadi, was killed in the collapse of a smuggling tunnel
underneath the Egyptian-Gaza border.