Egypt flooded Gaza tunnels at Israel’s request, minister says

[Falcon29]

Egypt flooded Gaza tunnels at Israel’s request, minister says


The Egyptian military flooded several smuggling tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip’s southern border at Israel’s request, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said Saturday.

Speaking at an event in Beersheba, Steinitz stated that Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi had destroyed numerous tunnels built by the Islamist Hamas group, which rules the Palestinian enclave, including last October, on Israel’s behalf.

“Some tunnels were flooded, to a certain extent at our request,” Steinitz said, according to Ynet. “Flooding is a good solution in that realm.”

The energy minister added that security coordination between Israel and Egypt was “better than ever.”

Egypt flooded Hamas tunnels at Israel's request, minister says | The Times of Israel

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@Frogman

You didn't believe me when I said so....

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Meanwhile ISIS is training inside Egypt because Egyptian army is nowhere to be found to stop ISIS, rather is busy with serving Israel's interests:

 

[Frogman]

You didn't believe me when I said so....

The process was started with Operation Sinai in 2013 with the acceptance of former President Mohammed Morsi.

Whether specific intelligence was given to us by the Israelis regarding certain tunnels is frankly irrelevant and it isn't what you're trying to argue here.

 

[Hell NO]

Military did it without nsniper of his approval, actually military had bad relationship with Morsi's administration the whole time. If he objected, the coup would have occurred in 2013 rather in 2014. The military was hiding diesel supplies even while Morsi was in power. They had hotline with Saudi Arabia, Israel, US, Kuwait, UAE.

There is no such intelligence that could be given by them unless you're suggesting Israeli drones regularly operate in your territory. Egypt knows where they are, they don't span farther than a couple or few kilometers. Under Mubarak they just weren't bothered by them. Under Sisi, it was required of him by influential Jewish lobbyists in the US, who in return would give him political immunity. And that's why he's security partner with US now.

Meanwhile, your thesis cannot be established. These tunnels have no impact on ISIS's ability to function inside of Egypt. Actually the tunnels are devastated by now. Hamas is getting weaker, and ISIS in Egypt is gaining strength. This tells there is no direct correlation between ISIS's rise and Gaza's digging of tunnels. ISIS has cells in Cairo as well. It seems they transfer arms from direction West of Sinai or from northwest of Sinai. Cairo and Libya. The anti-Palestinian assertions by Israeli and ISIS media have been proven to be false.

don't say no correlation you should know better

from another angle

another angle

does that sniper look familiar???
Because i am sure i have seen it used before but not by isis in syria instead by the hamas in gaza

 

[Hell NO]

Putting picture doesn't defeat my point. Weapons are everywhere, there is market for them all over the place. These rifles actually come from Libya or Iran. They enter the black market. And whoever confiscate them gets them, or whoever purchase them get them. They are seen in Iraq and Syria as well. Just incase you aren't aware of mechanism, the arms trade is in Egypt. Not from Gaza, Gaza gets from Egypt, not the other way around. But my point wasn't about small arms flow. Read my post again, and observe the correlation I'm making which is the reality.

If someone kept listening to you they'd think Gaza is akin to Soviet Union in late 80's. And that Egypt is disarmed island famous for being tourist attraction.

Anyway you nor Frogman refuted my points. The tunnels are permantly destroyed, Hamas is weak, ISIS in Sinai is stronger than Hamas. ISIS is operating freely in Sinai because Egyptian army is too busy trying to stop several rifles going into Gaza which is deemed more important to Egyptian regime because these are the orders they receive from Israel. Sinai only has 500,000 population. In the north about 120,000, and they are spread thin. There's no possible way Egypt isn't able to deal with ISIS. There's no possible way ISIS can mount attacks and train in the desert without being spotted. Something isn't adding up. Either:

1. Egyptian regime wants ISIS to remain formidable as an excuse to stay in power as strongman and curb rights of Egyptian people

2. Egypt is lying about military results, each day your media claims to kill 30-45 ISIS militants. Since SISI took power, if you do the math, there is near 40,000 ISIS militants killed according to Sisi media claims. If that's true, then half of your population is fighting you and every single one of the half of million are ISIS members. What's even more add is Egyptian intelligence estimate is that ISIS has 800-1000 members in Sinai. If we go by your claims, it will take a few weeks to kill all 1,000 of them.

3. You have serious corruption culture

Look at the list of users that's an Iranian clone only seen in gaza doesn't exist in Lybia and as far as I know

gaza started manufacturing a homemade version of that same riflehttp://Expert: Hamas' 'Homemade' Sniper Rifle Really Smuggled From Iran | Jewish & Israel News Algemeiner.com

as for the egyptian weapons black market if there was such things like Kornets and anti material snipers the police would have found some instead of thef aks,shoot guns and pistols like they always do find.
The real question I can't find an answer for is why can't isis servive anywhere in egypt away from those tunnels they can't even operate in central or south sinai only north in particular the area near gaza it's not like they haven't tried to operate in other areas and they always fail even in the western desert near Lybia their source of weapons according to what you claim.
as for the tunnels they are not fully destroyed yet concrete reinforced ones take longer just last week the army discovered a tunnel.
The Sinai Province only activity now it taking pictures and making women's and children plant IEDs and don't worry once the tunnels are gone the terrorists will lose their last supply route and with that the army would easily Finnish them.

 

[Hell NO]

You realize many of Iran's past weapons shipments were stuck in Sinai. And arms traders sold them there. Yes there are European versions from Libya. Which Iran's clone is based on.



This isn't manufacturing, this is extending the barrel.



There is and always was. Especially since 2011, I can take you into Sinai and show you this if you're willing to go with me. And a lot of your officers now about it, they profit from it too. There are even missiles that came from Libya at one point. The smugglers in Sinai aren't primitive like you seem to think.



Very simple, Sinai has been ungoverned for decades. You had such waves of violence in 1900's too. Egypt wasn't allowed to deploy forces there on any large scale.

No they don't always fail, and during 2011 many succeeded so there is sufficient weapons stocks in black market in Egypt.



If you're claiming that Sisi's policy is failing, then he should adjust his approach. Such as having dialogue with the Palestinians in Gaza. And considering opening commercial crossings full time. If he thinks his buddies in Israel will change anything than his time is limited. FYI, most people in northern Sinai are Palestinian or have Palestinian roots anyway. So disconnection to Gaza is not happening except in your dreams.



Your only way to combat militancy is working with the locals and working with the government in Gaza. Both sides can ensure there is security and mutual respect. If not, then no long term goals will be achieved. Palestinians aren't going to accept PA as our government just by Egyptian and Israeli pressure. We have lots of patience. Your government doesn't.

Soon MB will go armed and tunnels will be least of your priority. Wish the MB all the luck in cleansing Egypt from dictatorial, wealthy elite, criminal gangs.

You see I admit sinai was under governed for decades just like other places in egypt. The government policy was relaying on tribal leaders to keep law and order unfortunately in the Sinai due to millions made from smuggling and drug trade tribal leaders lost influence. The stuation in the Sinai in partially every egyptains
mistake as we were the ones who prevented the government from dealing with them from the beginning now we all regret it.
As for sisi's plan failing. No the flooding destroyed most of the tunnels and most importantly prevent the digging of new ones the concrete ones well take time but they would eventually collapse.
Commercial crossing is opened thousands of trucks go throw every week the only crossing which isn't opened is the rafah crossing which is a personal crossing due to the security setuation (we don't want anyone to acuse us of kednapping anyone like you did)
The army is working with the locals (many of them lost their lives because of this)
And as for the MB uprising you are dreaming. They have no weight in the egyptian society nowadays and add to that they are hated by everyone without the revelutionary youth they couldn't organise a single protest during the last commemoration of the revolution/police day. Their youth are joining isis and that's as far as they can go.

 

[Hell NO]

So we both agree that Sinai is underrepresented. But besides that, the economy is really dependent on Gaza. And vice versa. Most people in northern Sinai made a living by being active in black market trade. Not just for weapons, for janitors, food, metal, cement, gas, etc....I don't believe Egypt has a immediate economic alternative for Sinai. So why are you surprised that the black market is thriving?
Well black market +other criminal activities always backfire like what is happening now. The government is already working with local businessmen to create jobs

I never seen concrete ones on the Egyptian side of border. My point is, as long as there is no economic alternative, trade will persist whether by underground or above or by route of sea. It is actually in the benefit of Egypt to allow trade between Sinai and Gaza. Egypt's tourism industry will benefit if it allows Palestinians to travel there. Most people will be financially stable in Sinai as well. Government would have less responsibilities and can focus on creating jobs in the capital. On top of that, you will also have cooperation from locals in Sinai against AQM, you will gain their trust. When Palestinians had free reign to smuggle, we were in Sinai many times and ran the northern part near Gaza. We secured it as well from any militant threat.

Egypt has everything to lose if it seeks to isolate Gaza and shun the residents of Sinai. Your tourism industry will suffer, your national security will suffer, your image as an influential nation will suffer, etc....
Totally agree but as long as there is terrorism non of that can happen and tunnels are not the solution they are the cause of the problem.

You did kidnap 4 citizens so Israel can interrogate them. If it happens again, Sisi will pay a heavy price.
what is hamas gonna do give isis Kornets and anti material snipers

I don't if I would call giving an 24hr ultimatum to thousands of residents in Rafah to leave their homes for demolition a form of 'cooperation'. And if you don't, the army will execute your whole family. There are videos of this occurring.
Don't always get your information from one source

Couldn't organize a protest since all protest squares are closed off by the army. 40,000 were detained since the crackdown. Thousands killed. Even you guys killed an Italian citizen who didn't agree with your views:

Italian student found dead in Egypt | News | DW.COM | 04.02.2016
Egypt’s Military Deployed to Tahrir Square Ahead of the Fifth Anniversary of the Revolution | Egyptian Streets

If they have no weight the military wouldn't need to close everything off.

Egypt's Police Are Raiding Homes To Check Random People's Facebook Accounts - BuzzFeed News

Asma and Dima, two university girls who live in a rented flat in downtown Cairo, said they were shocked when security forces knocked on their door on Monday, then entered their apartment, asking them if they had participated in the Jan. 25th revolution or not. Then, they were asked about their Facebook accounts.

“The craziest question was when the police officer asked me to open my mobile and show him my Facebook account,” Asma said. “We were lucky because the original owner of the flat was a military general, so we called him and passed the phone to the police officer who left immediately,” Dima said.

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This month has seen the arrest of activists, Facebook pages' administrators and a sweeping raid of over 5,000 apartments in downtown Cairo.

A ′heartbreaking′ tale from Egypt′s revolution | Middle East | DW.COM | 24.01.2016

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You have to raid 5,000 apartments in less than one month and you're trying to give us impression that this regime has much local support and is succeeding due to popular support....No, it's more like they're abusing the hell out of their people and in panic mode every second of the day.

And do you think the police didn't the same and more before the actual revelution yet they couldn't stop the angry masses no matter what they did.

 

[Ceylal]

Egypt, since Sadat surrender to the West and the camp David agreement, became just another banana country like so many in this world...Sad!