Tunnel vision

Hamas, proving again that it controls the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, demanded that the tunnel operators pay a penalty for each death as a way to ensure that the diggers are in safe working conditions.

Al Jazeera English had a story about the Rafah tunnel industry, both in print and in video, where they claim that Hamas doesn't allow the tunnel operators to smuggle in people, drugs or weapons. Al Jizz romaticizes the smuggler, saying that they are necessary for Gazans to survive, and that they only bring in things like "shoes, chocolate and 7-Up."

Of course, the esteemed journalist doesn't bother finding out if Hamas operates any of its own tunnels to smuggle weapons. Clearly, the tons of weapons and explosives that Egyptian authorities are finding constantly are meant for Gaza, so the Jazeera reporter is being more than a little disingenuous.

Meanwhile, there was another tunnel death, this time by "electrocution," in Rafah.

The 2008 PalArab self-death count is now at 193.

UPDATE: A trader was murdered in Gaza. 194.