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GAZA CITY: The Gaza Strip has lost its last lifeline after the Israeli bombing raids destroyed dozens of smuggling tunnels under the sandy border with Egypt.The passages did not just supply Hamas with arms, but brought in flour, fuel and baby milk. For Gazans, already used to blackouts and shortages from an 18-month border blockade, the daily hunt for basics is even more desperate.
"I fed the children cooked tomatoes today. I can't find bread," Nima Burdeini, a mother of 11, said yesterday at the Rafah refugee camp on the Gaza-Egypt border.
Israeli warplanes pounded the illicit tunnels as part of the heavy bombardment of Hamas targets in Gaza that began on Saturday. The hundreds of tunnels were seen as key to keeping Hamas in power.
After the Islamic militants seized Gaza by force in June 2007, Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on the territory, allowing in only basic goods and humanitarian supplies.
Most of Gaza's 3900 factories have closed, unable to import raw materials or export products. Construction halted and thousands of people were thrown out of work, deepening poverty in an area where most of the 1.4million residents rely on UN food aid.
At times, Israel tightened the closure, restricting the inflow of fuel, cash and other key supplies. The blockade caused frequent power outages and interruptions in the water supply.
In the two months leading up to Israel's offensive, Israel kept Gaza tightly sealed to force militants to stop firing rockets at southern Israel.
The tunnels became a lifesaver for Hamas -- and for Gaza. Some were used to sneak in arms, including rockets that militants are now firing into Israel.
But most of the passages were used to haul in consumer goods such as motorbikes, goats, refrigerators, flour and chocolates.
The tunnel area that residents once referred to as Gaza's "duty-free zone" is now a wasteland of smashed concrete and craters, churned up by Israeli bombs.
The tunnel area was struck 19 times yesterday within 30 minutes, residents said. Gaza health official Moawiya Hassanain said two people were killed and 16 were wounded.
Before that report, Israeli air force officials said the bombing campaign had demolished more than 80 tunnels. Egyptian officials said the number was at least 120.
Residents said several hundred tunnels were under the 15km border. The tunnels are well known -- brazen owners put up colourful tents over the entrances.
Economist Omar Shaban estimated that about two-thirds of goods sold in Gaza came through the tunnels. From diggers, drivers and haulers, the passages employed about 12,000 Gazans.
Tunnel owner Abu Sufian said he and his colleagues lost millions of dollars in merchandise.
Mr Shaban said destroying the tunnels would bruise, but not bloody the rule of Hamas. The militant group also funded itself through taxes and a network of businesses controlled by loyalists.
But the bombings have brought Gaza's dwindling economic activity to a halt. In Gaza City, Hiba Dahshan, 22, said the price for a 50kg bag of flour had jumped from $US30 ($43) to $US100.
AP
