Guards Bust Smuggling Effort to Provide Military Tactical Gloves to Hamas

Border officials at the Kerem Shalom Crossing between Israel and Gaza detained a truck driver suspected of trying to smuggle thousands of pairs of military tactical gloves into the Strip Sunday, the defense ministry announced Monday. The gloves were hidden inside a consignment of clothing and were presumably intended for the Hamas military wing.

The ministry said the truck and all its contents were impounded and transferred to the special joint ISA, Israel Police, Israel Customs Administration and Ministry of Defense Crossings Authority anti-smuggling team.

“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,” said Crossings Authority Kerem Shalom Director Ami Shaked. “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.”

Gaza Coordination and Liaison Office Head Col. Faris Atila added “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. We will continue to frustrate and thwart the abuse of our civilian policy for terrorist goals and the needs of the Hamas terrorist organization.”