People who are concerned about the limits Israel imposes on traffic between Israel and Gaza need to keep in mind the blockade on the Egyptian side. From the BBC,
The Egyptian government says it began constructing the barrier along the Gaza-Egypt border last year. When finished it is meant to be 11km-long (seven miles), stretching down 18m (59ft) underground.
According to Egypt it is made of bomb-proof, super-strength steel and is costing millions of dollars to build.
Mohammed smiles when he hears this. "We pay around a $1,000 (£665) for a man with an oxygen-fuelled cutter to come and break through it. It takes up to three weeks to cut through but we get there in the end," he says.
...Egypt's secular government is opposed to Hamas, which has historical ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, the main opposition movement in Egypt which is illegal but largely tolerated.
Many Gazans are angry with the Egyptian government, which - they say - is increasing their suffering.
The blockade has meant that Gaza is to a great extent dependent on the smuggling tunnels from Egypt. Millions of dollars worth of goods are smuggled in every month. Everything from fridges to fans, sheep to shampoo comes through the tunnels.




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