How did Egypt’s 2013 change of government affect tunnels and crossings in the Gaza Strip?

Following the ouster of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in the summer of 2013, the new military-led interim government in Egypt adopted a hostile stance toward Hamas, which significantly impacted the Gaza Strip.12

The effects of this change in government included:

• Border Crossings: The new administration heavily restricted the Rafah border crossing. Traffic, which had previously been opened to allow passage for Palestinians, was reduced to approximately 50 people per day due to security concerns and was eventually closed altogether.12
• Smuggling Tunnels: The Egyptian government shut down the majority of the subterranean tunnels that had served as a vital lifeline for the territory. These tunnels were a primary means of supplying a wide variety of goods to the Gaza Strip and functioned as a major source of tax revenue for Hamas.2

By late 2013, these measures placed the Hamas government under severe financial strain, leaving it struggling to pay the wages of public sector employees.2