Israel’s military reported Thursday that it intercepted a drone transporting weapons from Egypt into Israeli territory on Wednesday.
Amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israeli authorities have noted that Hamas has used tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border to smuggle arms, Reuters reported.
However, Egypt maintains that it dismantled these tunnel networks years ago, establishing a buffer zone and bolstering border security to prevent such smuggling activities.
Earlier in October, Israel’s military reported thwarting another weapons smuggling attempt from Egypt, intercepting a drone loaded with guns and ammunition.
Israeli soldiers also sealed off an essential supply channel into the Gaza Strip on May 7 by taking control of the major Rafah border crossing. They indicated that Hamas used the border for terrorist objectives. It is frequently assumed that weapons and other prohibited materials are smuggled into the Strip from Egypt.
Humanitarian impact
The two borders into southern Gaza, Rafah, and Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom, were closed, according to the UN and other international relief organizations, effectively cutting off the region from outside help and leaving very few stores open.
According to Red Crescent sources in Egypt, supplies have ceased.
Israel is however worried that Egypt’s failure to coordinate the admission of supplies might result in immense global pressure and jeopardize its capacity to operate in Rafah.
