Egypt's crackdown on border with Gaza halted smuggling: Hamas official

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An Egyptian crackdown on tunnels beneath its borders with the Gaza Strip brought the smuggling passages to a full halt, an official from the Islamic Hamas Movement said Monday.

The Egyptian security campaign in North Sinai, which intensified in recent days, caused severe cut in fuel and construction materials, which mainly come through the tunnels, said Hatem Ouwida, deputy minister of economy in Hamas government.

The clampdown along Gaza's southern border with Egypt was launched fiercely after the Egyptian military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi on July 3.

Hamas, which controls Gaza since 2007, is an offshoot of Morsi' s Muslim Brotherhood group.

For Hamas, the tunnels had been a major source of income through taxing commodities and goods that are smuggled into Gaza via the underground passages.

At some point, the tunnels served as Gaza's main economy lifeline when Israeli blockade against Gaza was in its height between 2007 and 2010.

Observers say the recent Egyptian military operation and subsequent efforts to shut down the tunnels are the fiercest ever.

"Such measures threaten Gaza with a huge crisis and decline in economic, social situation and all aspects of life," Ouiwda told reporters.

He added that Israel allows 40 percent of Gaza's needs through Kerem Shalom, the only commercial crossing point with Israel. They include food, clothes and household items.