Egypt denies Israeli tunnel fund
It is known that Hamas has built an extensive network of tunnels under the Gaza Strip over the years. But have the terrorists also constructed a three-meter-high direct connection to Egypt to smuggle in weapons? Cairo denies corresponding Israeli claims.
Egypt has rejected reports of a three-meter-high tunnel under the border between the Gaza Strip and the North African country, according to state-owned Egyptian TV channel Al-Kahira News. A high-ranking unnamed source told the channel that Israel was trying to justify its "ongoing aggression in the Gaza Strip" with the reports.
The Israeli military announced on Sunday evening that it had discovered a three-meter-high tunnel under the border. This happened during a search for underground passages in the border town of Rafah, the military said. Soldiers had stumbled upon this particularly well-developed tunnel a few days ago. The claims could not be independently verified at this point, and it was also unclear when the tunnel was last used.
Over the years, Hamas has dug a network of tunnels with a total length of hundreds of kilometers throughout the Gaza Strip. It is suspected that the chief of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Yahya al-Sinwar, is also hiding in these tunnels.
EU concerned about destruction in Gaza
Meanwhile, the EU is demanding clarity about the destruction of a water treatment facility in the Gaza Strip. The European Union is deeply concerned about the continued destruction of important civilian infrastructure and joins international calls for clarification of this incident, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. It calls on the Israeli government to refrain from measures that further worsen the living conditions of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. It reminds that deliberate attacks on vital infrastructure constitute a war crime.
"The humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip is creating life-threatening conditions for an already weakened civilian population that is still suffering from hunger and has been repeatedly displaced to overcrowded tent camps for the past ten months without an end in sight and without a safe haven," the statement said.
It is deeply concerned about the collapse of wastewater, waste, and health systems, leading to the spread of diseases such as polio, as well as skin and respiratory infections, especially among children. Borrell also called again for an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli hostages.
The Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip was triggered by the unprecedented massacre that Hamas and other extremist groups carried out in Israel on October 7. Around 1200 people were killed on the Israeli side, and another 250 were taken hostage. Israel responded with massive air strikes and a ground offensive since late October. Israel's military denies attacking civilian infrastructure without military necessity and violating international law. Instead, it says that Hamas is violating the laws of war by entrenching itself in civilian facilities.
The Israeli military's discovery of a suspected three-meter-high tunnel near the border with Gaza has fueled speculations about potential military allies, resulting in discussions about a potential 'War with Israel' due to the smuggling of weapons.
In light of the ongoing tensions and destructive actions, the EU has raised concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the impact of destroyed infrastructure on the health of children and the need for an immediate ceasefire.
