Israeli authorities seize knives and drones en route to Gaza
Parcels from Ali Express and Amazon included diving equipment, knives, drones and more.
By ANNA AHRONHEIMDrones found among dual-use products entering Gaza Strip, Nov. 2019(photo credit: COGAT SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Israeli authorities have seized hundreds of parcels of dual-use products bought online and believed to be destined for terror groups in the Gaza Strip.Israeli authorities seize hundreds of parcels of dual-use products bought online and believed to destined for terror groups in the Gaza Strip. (Credit: COGAT Spokesperson"s Office)Officials from the Crossing Authority of the Defense Ministry, along with representatives from the Gaza District Coordination Office (DCO) and the Office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) seized the products at the Erez Crossing.Among the products seized on Wednesday in the 325 mail packages ordered online from Ali Express and Amazon were military and electronic equipment such as skimmers, knives, scuba gear, drones and satellite communications equipment and binoculars.Importing dual-use goods into the Gaza Strip, such as cameras, requires a special permit.“This is another time that the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip are trying to exploit [both] the civilian policy that the State of Israel is using and postal transit for terrorist purposes,” said Col. Iyad Sarhan, head of the Coordination and Liaison Administration in Gaza.“These attempts are thwarted again and again by IDF officers and soldiers, and we regard them very harshly. We will continue to work around the clock and do all we can to prevent their intention to compromise the security of the State of Israel and its citizens.”Israeli authorities, including the Crossing Authority together with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Service), COGAT, the Israel Police and Israel Tax Authority, regularly intercept illicit goods heading for Hamas at crossings into the Strip.
