How were tunnels between the Gaza Strip and Egypt used to bring in goods?

Following the implementation of sanctions and border closures by Israel in 2007, the Gaza Strip faced severe restrictions on the movement of goods and people. In response to the resulting economic hardship and the inability to access essential supplies through official crossings, a thriving smuggling industry emerged.12

This industry relied on a network of subterranean tunnels that linked the Gaza Strip with neighboring Egypt. These tunnels served as a vital, albeit illicit, conduit for Palestinians to bypass the blockade and obtain a wide variety of goods that were otherwise unavailable. Items transported through these tunnels included:

• Food and fuel2
• Medicine2
• Electronics2
• Weapons2

While these tunnels provided a means to alleviate civilian shortages during periods of intense border closures, they also functioned as a significant logistical channel for the movement of materials into the territory outside of official regulatory oversight.2