The seizures were part of a new campaign underway to expose tunnels used by Palestinians to smuggle goods into Gaza, which proliferated exponentially as Israel's four-year siege intensified during 2008-9.
Two tunnels, used to smuggle goods and medical supplies, were found near Rafah's Salah Ad-Din area, and one tunnel, used to bring cars into Gaza, was found near in the jungle area north of Rafah.
Egypt began constructing a steel wall on its border to prevent the tunnels last year, but an Egyptian official said that there are hundreds of holes in the barrier, “equal to the number of active tunnels,” the Associated Press reported Thursday, prompting one source to call the endeavor a "big failure."
Egypt has faced criticism from Palestinians over its cooperation with Israel's blockade of Gaza, which necessitated the tunnels that are used to smuggle everyday goods into the coastal area. Israel, which considers the ruling Hamas faction a terrorist organization, says some tunnels are used to smuggle weapons.
