Military tactical gloves. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense Spokesperson
A clothing shipment into Gaza turned out not to be so innocent on Sunday, as thousands of pairs of military tactical gloves were found in the consignment of clothing in another foiled smuggling attempt. An Israeli press release included photos of a pair of camouflaged gloves and noted that it is “suspected that the gloves were intended for use by the Hamas terrorist organization.”
It wasn’t the first time that Gaza terrorists have tried to smuggle military gear or dual use items that can aid in making weapons or fighting Israel. Last year, professional-grade commando knives were found in a plumbing materials shipment, while another plot was foiled aiming to smuggle into Gaza a raw material used in rocket fuel.
“The Hamas terrorist organization has repeatedly tried to exploit Israel’s civilian policy for its own ends at the expense of the civilian population in Gaza,” Gaza Coordination and Liaison Office Head Col. Faris Atila was quoted in the latest press release as saying. “We will continue to frustrate and thwart the abuse of our civilian policy for terrorist goals and the needs of the Hamas terrorist organization.”
The press statement, published by the Ministry of Defense and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), said the criminalized shipping truck and its contents were impounded. Israel and Egypt have long maintained restrictions on the types of goods that can enter Gaza in an effort to keep militarized items from reaching terrorists.
The latest attempt tried to sneak the military gloves through the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel into Gaza. While this time it made headlines, it’s an ongoing fight that’s not always publicized.
Crossings Authority Kerem Shalom Director Ami Shaked said in the press statement, “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. 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.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, October 23, 2017)