Israel freezes shipments to Gaza over tunnel
Israel has placed a ban on building materials from entering Gaza following the discovery of a tunnel running 450m into Israel. The Israeli army said the concrete tunnel was buried 18m underground and 1.7km long
Israel authorities say shipment of building materials into Gaza will cease after discovering what it said was a sophisticated “terror tunnel” into the Israel from the Palestinian territory.
“Due to security reasons, [the army] decided to stop for now the transfer of building materials into Gaza,” Guy Inbar told News Agencies.
Inbar, spokesman for the Israeli defence ministry unit responsible for civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, did not say how long the ban would remain in force.
Last month, Israel permitted cement and steel deliveries into the Gaza Strip for use by the private sector for the first time since 2007. It had banned such transfers for fear the Palestinian movement, Hamas which rules Gaza, would use them to fortify its positions and build tunnels for attacks in Israel.
The Israeli army said the tunnel was buried 18m underground, made of concrete and ran for 1.7km with 450m extending into Israel.
It had lighting and a rail for a small trolley, “probably intended to transfer terrorists or soldiers from side to side rapidly.”
The Israeli defence minister, Moshe Yaalon, said in a statement that its discovery “prevented attempts to attack Israeli civilians and soldiers”.
He said it was “further proof” that Hamas “was continuing to prepare itself for confrontation with Israel and terror activities”.
Israel and Hamas reached a truce, brokered by Egypt, after a deadly confrontation in November.
Its statement made mention of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was abducted by Palestinian fighters and transferred to Gaza via a tunnel in 2006 and held for five years.