Israeli forces thwart attempt to smuggle weapons

Israeli security forces succeeded in thwarting another attempt to smuggle weapons to Palestinian terrorists. 

Ministry of Defense Crossing Authority officials at the Jaba’a Crossing on Saturday night thwarted an attempt to smuggle weapons, presumably intended for the use of Palestinian terrorists.

The border crossing officials, stationed at a crossing situated between Beit Shemesh and Gush Etzion, stopped a vehicle in which three Israeli Bedouins, residents of Lakiya, were driving.

While searching the trunk, officials discovered knives and bullets. They proceeded to conduct a comprehensive inspection, during which they found three handguns.

The weapons were confiscated and the three were detained by police for questioning by the Beit Shemesh police.

The Palestinian village of Tzurif, from which several terror cells have emerged, is situated just beyond the checkpoint. Israel’s security forces recently exposed and captured a five-man Hamas terror cell from Tzurif that planned several terrorist attacks, including shootings and an abduction, in order to bargain for the release of prisoners

Israel’s combined security agencies have been successful in thwarting multiple smuggling attempts of weapons and materials used for warfare against Israel, mostly into Gaza, almost on a daily basis.

Many of these smuggling operations have employed imaginative methods, including by sea and via Israel’s postal service.

Since Israel decimated Hamas’ terror infrastructure during Operation Protective Edge, Hamas has been working relentlessly to rehabilitate its networks and replenish its weapons stockpiles, and has attempted to smuggle everything from gun scopes to entire trucks.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

Gush EtzionMinistry of DefensePalestinian terrorSmuggling