The media likes to portray the smuggling tunnels under Rafah as pure capitalism at work, where people desperate for money or goods are forced to engage in this dangerous but heroic activity to bring in candies, schoolbooks and cattle into Gaza.
However, a story in Palestine Today puts a lie to that.
There have been a large number of motorcycle accidents in Gaza over the past few months, and many people are complaining about it. As a result, Hamas has put a number of restrictions in place on motorcycles, mandating helmets and restricting underage drivers and so on.
One of their restrictions is to ban the import of more motorcycles from Egypt through the tunnels.
How can Hamas restrict the goods being smuggled into Gaza unless they know about and control each tunnel?
And if Hamas does control the tunnels, how much effort do they place in importing weapons and explosives compared to consumer goods?
The media doesn't seem to worry about that part of the issue very much.
