BICOM

Israeli authorities have intercepted a massive Gaza-bound shipment of ammonium chloride, which is typically used in large quantities to propel rockets.

It was announced by the Israel Tax Authority that last month, the Shin Bet security agency became suspicious of an especially large order of salt by a Gaza importer known to have ties to Hamas’ military wing. On inspection of the order at the Nitzana Crossing, officials found four tons of ammonium chloride in bags, buried inside the salt. The Tax Authority said: “Ammonium chloride is defined as a dual-use substance and its passage into the Gaza Strip requires a permit since it is liable to be used by Gaza-based terrorist organizations – such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad – in the production of long-range rockets.”

Israel places restrictions on some goods entering the Gaza Strip to prevent Hamas from importing materials used for armaments and military infrastructure. Israeli authorities have intercepted illicit goods on numerous occasions since Operation Protective Edge in 2014. Hamas is thought to be rearming, replenishing its arsenal of rockets, while it openly admits to rebuilding the complex network of tunnels designed to attack Israel.

The statement said that Israel’s security establishment “view the incident with utmost gravity” and that authorities have foiled “dozens of attempts to smuggle items and materials that are prohibited from importation into the Gaza Strip… which are suspected of being for use by local terrorist organisations.”

The announcement comes just a day after Israel’s Defence Ministry said that it plans to re-open the Erez border crossing to increase the flow of goods into the Gaza Strip. Also yesterday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Gaza border region with Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon and IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot. They received a situation assessment briefing and toured an area where a Hamas tunnel was recently uncovered. Shortly after the visit, IDF troops on the Gaza border came under fire. Their vehicle was struck but none were injured.