ID :
184803
Fri, 05/27/2011 - 07:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/184803
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CARS FROM LIBYA, EGYPT SMUGGLED INTO GAZA THROUGH TUNNELS
By Saleh Jadallah
GAZA STRIP, May 27 (Bernama) -- New model cars and four-wheel-drive jeeps smuggled through tunnels beneath southern Gaza Strip at the border with Egypt are becoming an attraction in the narrow enclave's streets.
Along with food supplies and construction materials, tunnel smugglers bring cars and jeeps to satisfy the strip's need for cars after the Tel Aviv regime last year allowed a limited number of cars to be imported as a step to easing its blockade.
The Israelis had banned cars from entering Gaza since 2007 when Hamas took over Gaza Strip from its rival, Fatah. The prices of the cars peaked frantically due to the Israeli closure.
Dealers said cars brought in from Libya were largely demanded by Gazans and abundantly smuggled into the strip due to the unrest in Libya, and especially from Benghazi city controlled by the rebels.
Libyan traders sold their cars in neighbouring Egypt and the Palestinian smugglers brought them into Gaza from Egypt, they said.
The new cars attract the attention of people while they are driven in the streets.
As 4WD jeeps have not been allowed in by Israel for "security reasons" since 2002, people crave having their pictures taken with the new jeeps.
The tunnels through which the cars are brought in are lighted by lamps hung on the walls.
The workers inside the tunnels hear the sounds and murmurings coming from neighbouring tunnels. They sometimes breach each other's walls while digging and working underground.
The underground passages built for bringing in cars are distinguished from other passages for their large space. The other passages used to bring in food
are narrower and shorter.
The smugglers, on both sides - Egypt and Gaza Strip - use primitive phones inside the tunnels to communicate with each other. Upon arrival from the tunnel, the cars are covered by sand and dust caught during smuggling.
One of the smugglers who declined to reveal his identity said he spent a week in Egypt and another week in Gaza Strip to arrange for deals with Egyptian and Libyan traders.
He said there was a great demand for smuggled cars since the strip had not received cars for a long time.
The smuggler told Bernama that his job increased his wealth tremendously despite the risky adventures that he had to take.
He said that tunnel smugglers were considered the richest people in barricaded Gaza.
"I am exposed to death at any moment," he said.
Israel frequently targets the tunnel areas in response to rockets fired by Gaza militants towards Israel.
Car dealers who used to import cars through Israel now purchase mainly smuggled cars.
They resolved to cope with this change due to the limited number of cars allowed in by Israel.
Abu Mohammed Dogmosh, a car dealer, said the dealers managed to rely on the smuggled cars in order to resume their business.
"Smuggled cars are more expensive but there are no alternatives," he said.
Smuggled Hyundai, KIA, PMW jeeps and other cars are exhibited at Abu Mohammed's showroom. The Arab words "Libyan Republic" and "Cairo" are seen on the car registration plates.
Abu Mohammed is currently waiting for three jeeps that he ordered from one of the tunnel dealers to arrive in Gaza next week.
The conditions of cars in Gaza Strip are very bad as spare parts are rare and expensive.
The fuel smuggled from Egypt through underground pipelines at the Rafah border, is not refined and have always caused damage to the cars.
Despite waiting for months, some people prefer to purchase cars imported through Israel as they believe that they are legal and reliable.
"I want to buy a 2011 Hyundai car but I will wait until I get one from the Israeli side. A smuggled car might have been stolen, so I don't want to get into trouble," said Khaled Galaga, 30.
Hamas, which administers the Gaza Strip, imposes some terms for giving a licence for smuggled cars. The Islamist administration makes sure that the buyers have legal authorisation from the sellers before giving them the registration numbers.
According to Hamas-run Ministry of Transportation, Israel allows 40 cars a week to be brought into Gaza through the Karem Shalom crossing between Rafah and Israel.
"We realise that these smuggled cars are brought illegally to the Strip but we try hard to make sure that the cars are not stolen from any other country.
"The blockade drives us to look for other alternatives," said Hasan Okasha, an official in the ministry.
-- BERNAMA
GAZA STRIP, May 27 (Bernama) -- New model cars and four-wheel-drive jeeps smuggled through tunnels beneath southern Gaza Strip at the border with Egypt are becoming an attraction in the narrow enclave's streets.
Along with food supplies and construction materials, tunnel smugglers bring cars and jeeps to satisfy the strip's need for cars after the Tel Aviv regime last year allowed a limited number of cars to be imported as a step to easing its blockade.
The Israelis had banned cars from entering Gaza since 2007 when Hamas took over Gaza Strip from its rival, Fatah. The prices of the cars peaked frantically due to the Israeli closure.
Dealers said cars brought in from Libya were largely demanded by Gazans and abundantly smuggled into the strip due to the unrest in Libya, and especially from Benghazi city controlled by the rebels.
Libyan traders sold their cars in neighbouring Egypt and the Palestinian smugglers brought them into Gaza from Egypt, they said.
The new cars attract the attention of people while they are driven in the streets.
As 4WD jeeps have not been allowed in by Israel for "security reasons" since 2002, people crave having their pictures taken with the new jeeps.
The tunnels through which the cars are brought in are lighted by lamps hung on the walls.
The workers inside the tunnels hear the sounds and murmurings coming from neighbouring tunnels. They sometimes breach each other's walls while digging and working underground.
The underground passages built for bringing in cars are distinguished from other passages for their large space. The other passages used to bring in food
are narrower and shorter.
The smugglers, on both sides - Egypt and Gaza Strip - use primitive phones inside the tunnels to communicate with each other. Upon arrival from the tunnel, the cars are covered by sand and dust caught during smuggling.
One of the smugglers who declined to reveal his identity said he spent a week in Egypt and another week in Gaza Strip to arrange for deals with Egyptian and Libyan traders.
He said there was a great demand for smuggled cars since the strip had not received cars for a long time.
The smuggler told Bernama that his job increased his wealth tremendously despite the risky adventures that he had to take.
He said that tunnel smugglers were considered the richest people in barricaded Gaza.
"I am exposed to death at any moment," he said.
Israel frequently targets the tunnel areas in response to rockets fired by Gaza militants towards Israel.
Car dealers who used to import cars through Israel now purchase mainly smuggled cars.
They resolved to cope with this change due to the limited number of cars allowed in by Israel.
Abu Mohammed Dogmosh, a car dealer, said the dealers managed to rely on the smuggled cars in order to resume their business.
"Smuggled cars are more expensive but there are no alternatives," he said.
Smuggled Hyundai, KIA, PMW jeeps and other cars are exhibited at Abu Mohammed's showroom. The Arab words "Libyan Republic" and "Cairo" are seen on the car registration plates.
Abu Mohammed is currently waiting for three jeeps that he ordered from one of the tunnel dealers to arrive in Gaza next week.
The conditions of cars in Gaza Strip are very bad as spare parts are rare and expensive.
The fuel smuggled from Egypt through underground pipelines at the Rafah border, is not refined and have always caused damage to the cars.
Despite waiting for months, some people prefer to purchase cars imported through Israel as they believe that they are legal and reliable.
"I want to buy a 2011 Hyundai car but I will wait until I get one from the Israeli side. A smuggled car might have been stolen, so I don't want to get into trouble," said Khaled Galaga, 30.
Hamas, which administers the Gaza Strip, imposes some terms for giving a licence for smuggled cars. The Islamist administration makes sure that the buyers have legal authorisation from the sellers before giving them the registration numbers.
According to Hamas-run Ministry of Transportation, Israel allows 40 cars a week to be brought into Gaza through the Karem Shalom crossing between Rafah and Israel.
"We realise that these smuggled cars are brought illegally to the Strip but we try hard to make sure that the cars are not stolen from any other country.
"The blockade drives us to look for other alternatives," said Hasan Okasha, an official in the ministry.
-- BERNAMA
