Egyptian authorities are wary of tunnels being used for smuggling trade Israeli authorities have opened talks with Egyptian officials over signing a bilateral agreement with Palestinian group Hamas, Israeli sources have claimed. The agreement would see an end to Israel\'s blockade against the Gaza Strip, in return for a pledge to suspend the supply of weapons to Hamas, and destroy cross-border tunnels between Egypt and Gaza.
Sources said that Egyptian security officials had resumed talks with Israeli authorities, in a bid to prevent any potential future clashes between Gaza and Israel. They added that further talks regarding the truce, Palestinian prisoners and Sinai’s security would take place in Tel Aviv.
An Israeli security delegation arrived in Cairo to hold talks with the Egyptian leadership about the truce agreement concluded between Palestinian factions in Gaza Strip and Israel, at the end of the last year.
Hamas sources stressed that the current negotiations with Israel are \"humanitarian and not political,\" with the aim being to implement the truce agreement.
However, Palestinian sources cast doubt over the possibility of current negotiations leading to an inclusive agreement through which Israel would end its blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.
They added that Egypt wants to demolish the tunnels despite Hamas’ protest, because the Egyptian authorities are convinced that weapons have been smuggled to Egypt through the tunnels.
The current talks, sources said, are based on implementing three main points of the truce agreement: opening the crossings around Gaza, increasing the area of fishing in the sea, and allowing the residents to reach their farms on the borders.
They claimed that up until now, Israel has failed to honour its truce commitments, so a request has been submitted to Egyptian authorities to pressure Israel.In a press statement, Hamas member Mahmoud el-Zahar said that current negotiations between Egypt and Israel are to execute the agreement of crossings, and to resolve the problem of the Palestinian prisoners.
He said that there has been no discussion on core issues related to territories or Jerusalem, with negotiations based around humanitarian issues.
Tunnels between Egypt and Gaza have led to a modest construction boom, with an estimated 2,000 men and boys working in around 250 border tunnels.
Gaza residents rely on the tunnels to get vital goods, such as construction materials and cheap fuel, but the they are also easy conduits for weapons and militants to pass in and out of Gaza and the nearby lawless Sinai desert peninsula.