HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032174.jpg
2.5 MB
Extraction Summary
3
People
2
Organizations
5
Locations
2
Events
1
Relationships
2
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
News article / report page
File Size:
2.5 MB
Summary
This document appears to be page 4 of a news article or geopolitical report discussing the economic and infrastructural situation in Gaza following the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. It details how the political changes in Egypt led to relaxed policing of smuggling tunnels, allowing massive amounts of construction materials (cement, steel) to enter Gaza, fueling a building boom despite Israeli restrictions. The text includes quotes from local construction workers and supervisors about the resurgence of work.
People (3)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Hosni Mubarak | Former President of Egypt |
Mentioned in the context of his overthrow and previous suppression of smuggling.
|
| Mahmoud Mohammad | Subcontractor |
Quoted regarding the increase in work following political changes in Egypt; leading a 10-man crew in Gaza City.
|
| Amer Selmi | Construction Supervisor |
Supervising the building of a $2 million wedding hall using tunnel materials.
|
Organizations (2)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Hamas |
Mentioned regarding Israeli security concerns (bunkers/bombs) and governance of projects.
|
|
| Egyptian security authorities |
Noted for no longer stopping smugglers after Mubarak's overthrow.
|
Timeline (2 events)
Daily (at time of writing)
Smuggling of 3,000 tons of construction materials per day
Egypt-Gaza border tunnels
Smugglers
Egyptian security authorities
Locations (5)
| Location | Context |
|---|---|
|
Primary subject location; discussing the siege and construction.
|
|
|
Mentioned regarding policy shifts and border restrictions.
|
|
|
Mentioned regarding border policy, revolution, and source of materials.
|
|
|
Area with reduced policing affecting the border situation.
|
|
|
Location where Mahmoud Mohammad's crew is working.
|
Relationships (1)
Mahmoud Mohammad is a subcontractor who says 'The contractor I work for...'
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (1,944 characters)
4
educated and potentially high-achieving population that is trapped
with no horizon. Pressure needs to be maintained to end the siege
entirely, they say, and talk of improvement is counterproductive.
The recent changes stem from a combination of Israeli policy shifts
and the chaos in Egypt. The new Egyptian border policy has made
little difference, but Egypt’s revolution and its reduced policing in
the Sinai have had a profound effect.
For the past year, Israel has allowed most everything into Gaza but
cement, steel and other construction material — other than for
internationally supervised projects — because they are worried that
such supplies can be used by Hamas for bunkers and bombs. A
number of international projects are proceeding, but there is an urgent
need for housing, street paving, schools, factories and public works
projects, all under Hamas or the private sector, and Israel’s policy
bans access to the goods to move those forward.
So in recent months, tunnels under the southern border that were
used to bring in consumer goods have become almost fully devoted
to smuggling in building materials.
Sacks of cement and piles of gravel, Turkish in origin and bought
legally in Egypt, are smuggled through the hundreds of tunnels in
double shifts, day and night, totaling some 3,000 tons a day. Since
the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian security
authorities no longer stop the smugglers. Streets are being paved and
buildings constructed.
“Mubarak was crushing us before,” said Mahmoud Mohammad, a
subcontractor whose 10-man crew in Gaza City was unloading steel
bars that were carried through the tunnels and were destined for a
new restaurant. “Last year we were sitting at home. The contractor I
work for has three major projects going.”
Nearby, Amer Selmi was supervising the building of a three-story, $2
million wedding hall. Most of his materials come from the tunnels.
with no horizon. Pressure needs to be maintained to end the siege
entirely, they say, and talk of improvement is counterproductive.
The recent changes stem from a combination of Israeli policy shifts
and the chaos in Egypt. The new Egyptian border policy has made
little difference, but Egypt’s revolution and its reduced policing in
the Sinai have had a profound effect.
For the past year, Israel has allowed most everything into Gaza but
cement, steel and other construction material — other than for
internationally supervised projects — because they are worried that
such supplies can be used by Hamas for bunkers and bombs. A
number of international projects are proceeding, but there is an urgent
need for housing, street paving, schools, factories and public works
projects, all under Hamas or the private sector, and Israel’s policy
bans access to the goods to move those forward.
So in recent months, tunnels under the southern border that were
used to bring in consumer goods have become almost fully devoted
to smuggling in building materials.
Sacks of cement and piles of gravel, Turkish in origin and bought
legally in Egypt, are smuggled through the hundreds of tunnels in
double shifts, day and night, totaling some 3,000 tons a day. Since
the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian security
authorities no longer stop the smugglers. Streets are being paved and
buildings constructed.
“Mubarak was crushing us before,” said Mahmoud Mohammad, a
subcontractor whose 10-man crew in Gaza City was unloading steel
bars that were carried through the tunnels and were destined for a
new restaurant. “Last year we were sitting at home. The contractor I
work for has three major projects going.”
Nearby, Amer Selmi was supervising the building of a three-story, $2
million wedding hall. Most of his materials come from the tunnels.
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_032174
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