Plight of Gaza without tunnels highlighted

Political advisor to Gazan Prime Minister, Dr Youssef Rizqa, has confirmed that closing the Gaza Strip tunnels will be extremely problematic as many Palestinians will loose the right to basic necessities, in light of the continued Israeli blockade. Egypt's current campaign to close tunnels in order to annihilate smuggling will cause thousands of Palestinians in the sector to lose their livelihood, the advisor has said. "The network of tunnels is a lifeline to Gaza, through which about 30 percent of all goods passes in a circumvent on the Israeli blockade imposed on it for more than seven years" Dr Rizqa added. It is believed that ten thousand Palestinians, at least, are working in trade-related to tunnels. Egypt has justified its campaign with security concerns, saying that some of the gunmen who killed 16 Egyptian soldiers near Gaza border in August entered Egyptian territory through these tunnels, and weapons are smuggled through these tunnels. However Palestine denies this. The move by Egyptian authorities has surprised and aggravated Hamas who were hoping for better relations with Cairo following the arrival of President Mohammed Morsi to power - the first Islamist President.