Israel's defense minister said Sunday that Palestinian security officers have recently smuggled anti-aircraft missiles into the Gaza Strip from Egypt.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told a closed Cabinet meeting that Palestinian intelligence agents were engaged in bringing the Strella missiles into the Strip through smuggling tunnels under the Egyptian border, participants in the meeting said, according to The AP.
"Last week, several Strellas were smuggled in by Palestinian military intelligence. If the Palestinians don't get a hold of the Strellas, we will," Mofaz was quoted as saying.
On their part, Palestinian officials denied Mofaz's accusations, claiming he was trying to divert attention from Israeli violations of the Feb. 8 cease-fire agreement. "Mofaz and the Israeli government are trying to hide the truth by sending this statement to the public," a senior Palestinian security official said, according to The AP.
