Gaza smuggling tunnels are usually stigmatized as aiding the transfer of weapons from Egypt into Gaza for use in terror attacks. On a near-weekly basis, reports emerge of Israeli air strikes on these tunnels to prevent the additional weapons entering the Strip.
However, some of the tunnels in and out of the Gaza Strip are used for medical supplies, food, and clothing, with Palestinian youth staffing the clandestine alleyways fearing that a tunnel collapse could leave them stranded for days. The tunnels have even been used in the past to smuggle brides into the Strip. Palestinians use the tunnels to circumvent Israeli security measures that control the products entering Gaza.
Human rights groups, Palestinians, and some international players have urged Israel to ease restrictions on the border and increase the types of products permitted to pass into the Strip. Some high-profile politicians even attempted to sail ships into the Strip with supplies in a show of solidarity with Gaza residents.
Israel tightened border controls following the Hamas take-over of Gaza in 2006 due to incessant rocket fire into southern Israel.
Watch this interesting video on the smuggling tunnel youth.
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