Israel catches Hamas smuggling tunnel operative

A Hamas operative who worked in the group’s smuggling tunnels in Rafah was detained last month in a joint Israeli police-Shin Bet operation, according to a communiqué released Tuesday. Ibrahim She’ar, 21, who worked in the Gaza-Sinai tunnels running through the divided town of Rafah, disclosed a Hamas plan for a new tunnel to link Rafah to the Israeli border terminal at Kerem Shalom. He also gave up the locations of the entire network –from the tunnel entrances to their outlets. Where and how Israel laid hands on She’ar were not revealed. DEBKAfile’s military sources link the disclosure to Israel’s concern about the recent slowdown in Egypt’s operations against the Hamas smuggling tunnels into Sinai.