New Tunnel Digging Continues Defiantly

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Despite the Egyptian government’s persistence in building the subterranean steel barrier along its border with the Gaza Strip aimed at sealing off the system of tunnels vital to Palestinian survival, Palestinians continue to show resilience and to carry on digging new tunnels regardless of the dangers they face.

The network of underground tunnels between the besieged Gaza Strip and Egypt constitute one of its only openings to the outside world and through which the basic necessities of life, such as food and fuel are brought in.

Recent reports indicate that there has been a crackdown by the Egyptian authorities on tunnel workers who are being gassed while in the tunnels working. In some instances, tunnels have been blown up with young workers trapped and killed and in other cases raw swage has been pumped into tunnels suffocating and killing those trapped below ground. To date there have been more than 50 fatalities and numerous injuries.

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MEMO Photographer: Mohammed Asad