BICOM

Two sisters from Gaza attempted to smuggle explosive materials, used to manufacture IEDs, into Israel yesterday morning.

The explosives were found hidden in tubes labelled “medical materials” during a security inspection at the Erez crossing from Gaza into Israel. The two women had been approved to enter Israel to receive medical treatment for cancer at an Israeli hospital. Israel Police sappers safely discarded the explosive materials.

An investigation by the Shin Bet security agency discovered the explosives were sent by Hamas as part of a plan to carry out terrorist attacks in Israel. The investigation of the two sisters is ongoing.

Defence Ministry Crossings Authority Director Brig. Gen. (ret.) Kamil Abu Rokon said: “To our regret, it has been proven again that Gaza Strip-based terrorists are continuing their efforts to exploit the humanitarian channel in order to carry out attacks in Israel. The security inspectors acted exactly as expected, with exemplary professionalism.”

The IDF spokesman’s office said that in 2016 30,000 residents of Gaza entered Israel for medical treatment. But entry permits into Israel have been abused in the past. In June 2016, the Shin Bet arrested Faiz Atar, who entered Israel on a business permit, after he attempted to smuggle thousands of Euros in his shoes destined for Hamas operatives in the West Bank.

In the West Bank yesterday an elderly Israeli was lightly injured in a car ramming attack as he waited at a bus stop at the Gush Etzion junction. IDF soldiers at the scene shot the Palestinian driver, who later died in hospital.  This is the second reported car ramming attack this month, after Sgt. Elchai Teharlev was killed whilst guarding a bus stop outside the West Bank settlement of Ofra.