Israel thwarts Hamas attempt to smuggle military equipment

Israel thwarted another attempt by Hamas to smuggle military apparel into Gaza. 

Israeli security forces on Sunday seized a massive shipment of military-grade gloves en route to the Hamas terror group in Gaza.

Israel’s Ministry of Defense stated Monday that its security inspectors foiled an attempt to smuggle thousands of pairs of military tactical gloves into the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom Crossing.

The gloves were concealed in a consignment of clothing.

Israel suspects that the gloves were intended for use by the Hamas terrorist organization.

The truck carrying the consignment and all its contents were impounded and transferred to a special joint anti-smuggling team.

“Attempts to smuggle military equipment into Gaza are part of the daily struggle, conducted largely out of the public view, waged by the very best inspectors,” said Kerem Shalom Director Ami Shaked. “We are continuing our anti-smuggling efforts around the clock in order to ensure that only approved and coordinated goods – that do not aid terrorist elements – enter Gaza.”

Gaza Coordination and Liaison Office Head Col. Faris Atila charged Hamas with repeatedly trying to “exploit Israel’s civilian policy for its own ends at the expense of the civilian population in Gaza.”

He vowed to “continue to frustrate and thwart the abuse of our civilian policy for terrorist goals and the needs of the Hamas terrorist organization.”

The Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) and the Crossings Authority, together with the IDF’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Israeli Police and the Tax Authority, continue to fight persistent attempts to smuggle contraband into the Gaza Strip.

The Crossings Authority thwarted 1,226 attempts to smuggle contraband into Gaza in 2016, a 165% increase from 2015.

Smuggling attempts have increased each year since Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014.

Many of these smuggling operations have employed imaginative methods, including by sea and via Israel’s postal service. These attempts include the smuggling of everything from gun scopes to entire trucks.

Examples of items seized during thwarted smuggling attempts include drones and small UAVs, security cameras, dismantled vehicle parts, 4X4 engines and tires, lasers, rappelling equipment, professional-grade diving equipment to be used by Hamas’ commandos, communications equipment, car batteries, military clothing, dual-use fiberglass employed in terror-tunnel building, liquid polyester and adhesive material used for rocket building, spiral welding, aluminum and iron pipes, water pumps used for terror tunnels, metal pellets, steel rods and more materials used in the various stages of rocket and mortar production.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

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