The Rafah Terror Tunnels: An Underground City of Weaponry ***PICS

Israel Defense Forces ^ | February 11th, 2003 | IDF Spokesperson's Unit

[yonif]

February 11th, 2003

The Rafah Terror Tunnels: An Underground City of Weaponry

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.



Tunnel discovered by IDF forces. Photo : IDF Spokesperson's Unit


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.


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.

[Orangedog]

Hey, at least the IDF found them. That's better than Col. Klink could ever do! ;)

[bruin66]

Does anybody know the width of the teritory through which these tunnels are dug? Seems standard oil-prospecting seismic rigs could find them, staightaway. Maybe even collapse them...

[Valin]

people (primarily prostitutes)
Doesn't the koran have some rather harsh things to say about this?