ALBAWABA - Israeli internal security agency Shin Bet revealed that it had foiled an explosives smuggling attempt into the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
The Israeli Defense Ministry said that on September 4th, Explosives, including C4 material, had been stitched inside clothing bound for Gaza and were caught by the Israeli Crossing Authority at the Kerem Shalom crossing.
Shin Bet issued a statement in which they provided additional information on the foiled smuggling attempt.
"Following the discovery of the explosive material at the Kerem Shalom crossing, an in-depth investigation was carried out," the statement read.
"As part of the investigation of the incident, it emerged that the pallet was sent by a transportation company from the Gaza Strip called Alkadasia" Shin Bet added saying that the company routinely transfers goods from the Gaza Strip to the Kerem Shalom crossing.
The Shin Bet had identified several of the suspects implicated in the smuggling ring, including Mi Mansour from Gaza, Arafat Natsha from Hebron, and Mohamed Abu Awad from Nablus. The last two were previously imprisoned as security prisoners and were released as part of a prisoner swap deal.
The suspects involved in smuggling the shipment, according to the Israeli intelligence agency, revealed "the 'fingerprint' of the deportees to the 'West Bank headquarters' of Hamas".
A senior Shin Bet official accused "Hamas elements" of taking part in the smuggling operation.
"The cynical exploitation of Hamas elements in the axis of the transfer of goods from the Gaza Strip directly harms the regular fabric of life of the residents of the Gaza Strip and Israel,".
