Since January 2003, large amounts of diverse weapons have been smuggled into the Gaza Strip, including:
Note: Efforts are being made to smuggle in more advanced kinds of weapons.
General Background
The Oslo Accords, signed in 1994-1995, granted the Palestinian Authority control over most of the Gaza Strip. The agreements specify that the IDF will continue to control a narrow strip between the area under Palestinian control and the border with Egypt, called the "Philadelphi Route." On both sides of the route are the towns of Palestinian Rafah and Egyptian Rafah.
During the ensuing years, the area has been used for smuggling, and rapidly became the main pipeline for transporting weapons and ammunition into the Gaza Strip. The smuggled weapons are then transferred to the rest of the Gaza Strip, comprising the majority of the weaponry in the Gaza Strip, which is then used for carrying out terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Currently, the area is used for smuggling weapons, drugs, goods and lately, human beings.
The City of Rafah
The smuggling business began in Rafah during the 1980's, due to the city's economic condition and geographic location. The smuggling is carried out mainly through tunnels dug under the border - while in the past smuggling took place overland as well.
Parallel to the smuggling industry in the area, the extremist Islamic infrastructure also developed, which increased the involvement of the residents in terrorist and smuggling activity.
The economic element comprises an important factor in channeling local residents and families into the weapons and ammunition smuggling industry. During this period, a large-scale smuggling industry developed in Rafah.
This industry comprises a primary source of income for entire families, and is the main source of income in the area. Due to the lucrative economic aspects of this industry, a power struggle has been raging between different clans and tribes over control of the smuggling.
Activity Carried Out by Terrorist Organizations and Their Relationship with the Palestinian Authority
The Hamas
1. The Hamas terrorist organization utilizes the Rafah area to arm its members throughout the Gaza Strip. This effort is aided by senior Hamas members and terrorist organizations in various countries - who transport weapons throughout the Gaza Strip via the Rafah tunnels.
2. Hostile terrorist activity against IDF forces in the area.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
1. During the current armed conflict, the PFLP has smuggled weapons and explosives to the Gaza Strip.
2. This effort is aided by Iranian official, as part of Iranian efforts to to bolster the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. As part of the above-mentioned effort, Iranian officials have smuggled weapons to the PFLP, and maintain close contact with supporters based in Egypt.
The Involvement of the Palestinian Authority in the Current Armed Conflict
1. The Palestinian Authority has aided in the above-mentioned terrorist activity since the beginning of the current armed conflict.
2. For example, the Palestinian Authority has encouraged residents to conceal tunnels in their residences, which results in the demolition of their houses.
3. Today, however, the demolition of a house in which a tunnel has been uncovered, brings with it an ample windfall, as well as the construction of a new house - built of concrete in the neighborhood of Tel-Sultan by the Palestinian Authority.
As a result, residents have even begun to construct fictious tunnels, and spread rumors about tunnels located under their houses in order to receive compensation from the Palestinian Authority after their home is demolished. Thus, the Palestinian Authority encourages the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip.
4. During the entire cease-fire period, the Palestinian Authority failed to deal with the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip, as it should have. This smuggling, during the cease-fire, served to arm the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip and strengthen the terrorist infrastructure in the area.
Palestinian Authority Activity to Re-Arm
During the current armed conflict, the Palestinian Authority itself, through the "Re-armament Network," has been active in smuggling weapons into the Gaza Strip via tunnels.
Part III: IDF Activity
During the past year and a half, IDF forces have acted forcefully to prevent smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip.
The Wall
In order to create a continuous cover of observation and fire, and as well as a physical blockade, a wall was errected. As part of the wall, the Termit and Hardon outposts were established.
Targeted Activity to Uncover and Demolish Tunnels
During 2003, the IDF has uncovered and demolished 36 tunnels (specified later on) as well as a large number of houses and buildings from where the tunnels emerged.
Summary
Parallel to the process whereby the demolition of houses in which smuggling tunnels have been uncovered, provides financial compensation, there are those Palestinians who reject the digging of the tunnels both from houses they own or from neighboring houses.
IDF: Rafah Tunnels a Growing Threat (1.8.03)
By Amos Harel,
Haaretz Correspondent
The IDF Southern Command reports that the Palestinians are using the hudna in order to step up smuggling on the Israel-Egypt border near the Gaza Strip city of Rafah.
Israel Defense Forces sources say that tunnels used in smuggling across the border have been rebuilt since the army destroyed them before the start of the temporary cease-fire three weeks ago.
Still, the IDF does acknowledge that the number of shooting incidents in the Rafah area has dropped significantly since the cease-fire. But the IDF is concerned with the preparations that the Palestinian opposition groups are making in case the hudna collapses, particularly in areas of explosives and Qassam rockets. The range of the rockets is now believed to have been extended.
The Rafah Terror Tunnels: An Underground City of Weaponry (11.2.03)
The IDF frequently uncovers and destroys Palestinian tunnels constructed underneath the "Philadelphi" route in the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip. The tunnels are used to smuggle weapons, cigarettes, drugs, and people (primarily prostitutes) from Egypt into Gaza.
The "Philadelphi" Route
The 1993 Oslo Accords granted significant territorial autonomy to the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip. Under the Oslo Accords, the IDF retains control of a thin strip of land (100 meters in width), known as the "Philadelphi" route, which divides the southern tip of the Gaza Strip city of Rafah and the Egyptian Sinai peninsula.
Tunnel discovered by IDF forces under the The "Philadelphi" Route
Rafah: A Transit Point for Weapons Smuggling
In the period after the 1993 Oslo Accords, the Palestinians constructed a complex network of tunnels underneath the Egypt-Israel border in the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip. The tunnels are used to smuggle weapons, cigarettes, drugs, and people (primarily prostitutes) from Egypt into Gaza. Consequently, the city of Rafah has become a focal point for smuggling illicit contraband throughout the Palestinian Authority.
Inside the Tunnels
The smuggling tunnels are often elaborate, and may contain wood-paneling, electrical infrastructure, communications equipment, and elevators. Small tunneling machines, imported with the full knowledge of the Palestinian Authority, are used to dig these subterranean passages.
Tunnels Often Concealed in Houses
The Rafah tunnels are typically dug inside residential homes, and are concealed under bathrooms, living rooms, and bedrooms. On October 12, 2001, two tunnel entrances were discovered inside a child's bedroom. Another such tunnel was uncovered on September 12, 2002.
Smuggling tunnel entrance concealed in a child's bedroom.
Hosting and maintaining smuggling tunnels can often become a family business that provides a primary source of income.
The smuggling tunnels illustrate the deep involvement of some Palestinian civilians in aiding and abetting terrorist activity.
How the Smuggling Tunnels are Built
On August 10, 2002, the Islamic web portal, "Islam Online," published an interview with an individual named "Honey."
Honey identified himself as an active "expert" in the excavation of clandestine subterranean passages in the Rafah area, and described how he and his friends dug tunnels in which Palestinian terrorist organizations smuggled arms.
The following is a transcript of the "Islam Online" interview:
Determining the Most Suitable Location for a Tunnel
After determining the most suitable location to begin work, engineers survey the ground, which must be of a firm, and not overly sandy consistency. The further the point of origin is from the (Israeli) border, the less chance there is of being caught.
How the Tunnels are Dug
A pit is dug one meter wide and between twelve to fourteen meters deep. Supports are placed on the sides of the pit. The pit is dug to a depth of at least twelve meters so that Israeli detection devices cannot detect tunnels at this depth. The tunnel is dug horizontally so that it has a width of forty centimeters by forty centimeters. Every three meters wooden planks are placed alongside the four sides of the tunnels so it doesn't collapse. Various mechanical devices are used to overcome natural obstacles like rock, including a machine that removes sand via suction. An electrical cable is hung in the tunnel to provide lighting.
"Honey's" diagram of Palestinian smuggling tunnels.
Building Work and Security Precautions
The work is conducted clandestinely. The sand is not removed all at one time, but is placed in flour bags and transported to a remote location. A lookout is posted at the entrance to the tunnel to ensure that the work continues unimpeded. The completion of one tunnel takes three months or more. The last tunnel we built took three months. The workers who build a tunnel receive a percentage of the profit generated from smuggling weapons.
Between six to twelve meters are dug every day. The last tunnel we dug was two hundred and thirty meters long. At either end of the tunnel there is a "work manager;" the two work managers maintain contact by code, usually via phone. The workers on the Egyptian side direct where the tunnel exit will be. The exit from the Palestinian side is steep (a straight vertical shaft), while it is gradually inclined on the Egyptian side.
Construction of a tunnel costs a minimum of $10,000. The minimal cost for smuggling weapons is $300 and the money is split between the five partners for building and maintaining the tunnels.
Smuggling Method
If someone is interested in smuggling weapons, he makes a coded request and the workers schedule the date for the smuggling operation. The codes and passwords are transferred via [land-line] phones and cellular phones. The transfer from one side to the other takes between five to ten minutes and is carried out using an engine which pulls a rope.
Smuggling Prices
The following prices vary according to location and item.
Person: $1,000
AK-47 assault rifle from Egypt to Gaza: 2,000 Egyptian liras.
AK-47 assault rifle within Gaza: $1,000.
AK-47 bullet from Egypt to Gaza: 0.5 Egyptian Liras.
AK-47 bullet within Gaza: $3.
Source of Weapons: Egypt, Iraq, Sudan, and the Salom area in Libya.
[IDF Spokesperson]
Palestinian Weapons Smuggling Tunnel Uncovered and Destroyed (23.1.03)
On the night of 24 January, IDF "Givati" infantry troops, accompanied by armor, engineering forces, and combat helicopters, operated in a number of sections of the Gaza Strip.
In Rafah, IDF forces uncovered and destroyed a weapons smuggling tunnel. During the operation, terrorists attacked an armored vehicle with grenades. IDF forces returned fire toward the source of the attack.
IDF discovered tunnels used for smuggling weaponry (24.12.02)
The Givati Brigade, in cooperation with the Armor and Engineering Corps operated during the night (24 Dec. 2002) in Rafah in search of tunnels used for smuggling arms. The forces discovered a tunnel, located in a Palestinian house. Near the tunnel, two explosive devices were found, and were detonated in a controlled manner.
The Commander of the forces in the field, Capt. Itzik said that the purpose of last night's activity was to uncover a specific tunnel and destroy it. "According to information that we had received beforehand, the tunnel was discovered by a special force who the tunnel under a Palestinian house," He said in addition that the forces destroyed a three-floor story house, used for firing towards IDF posts in the area.
"Last night, explosives were put in our path" said Capt. Itzik. "We came under heavy shooting and mortars, which came from inside the house, which we destroyed last night, situated less than 100 meters from IDF posts in the area."
"Before we began to destroy the house, we requested the residents nearby to evacuate the area," he said. "After making sure that there was nobody near enough to be endangered, we destroyed the house that was used to shoot at soldiers."
In the past two months, IDF forces have discovered 13 tunnels used for smuggling arms on the border between Egypt and Israel. A security source said that the large amount of tunnels found lately, emphazises the need for IDF forces to do all they can to prevent it's occurrence.
The city of Rafah, serves as a focal point for weapon smuggling into the Palestinian Authority, which are used by all terrorist organizations all over the Gaza Strip.
Tunnels found hidden in residential homes
The difficulties involved in the discovery of such tunnels are that, they are usually hidden in residential homes, more often than not, they can be found in bathrooms, living rooms and bedrooms. On 12 Oct. 2002, two tunnels were discovered in the northern part of the city. The entrance to the tunnels was discovered inside a child's bedroom. Such activity reflects the exploitation by terrorist operatives of the Palestinian population.
