Egyptian authorities discovered three new smuggling tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Thursday.
Security forces noticed a truck loaded with cement while they were sweeping the Al-Sarsouryeh area at the Gaza Strip border, Egyptian security sources said. They confiscated the truck that was apparently destined for Gaza via the smuggling tunnels, and the goods were seized, the sources added.
Egyptian authorities also uncovered two tunnels in the Az-Za’aribah area, but found no smugglers.
The tunnels have provided a lifeline to bring goods into Gaza since Israel imposed its blockade on the coastal enclave four years ago. Egypt began constructing a steel wall along its border last year under US and Israeli pressure to curb weapons smuggling.
An Egyptian security official recently claimed that smugglers have cut hundreds of holes into the wall, telling The Associated Press that the endeavor had been "a big failure."
Egyptian government sources rebuffed the report, saying the wall was still under construction.