A shipment of hundreds of pineapples destined for Gaza as part of humanitarian aid turned out to be another smuggling attempt—with thousands of cigarettes hidden inside the fruit. An initial investigation revealed the shipment was purchased from an Israeli company. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the ‘Territories’ ordered an immediate freeze on the company’s authorization to bring aid into the Strip until further notice.
Israeli security forces at the Gaza border foiled another smuggling attempt Wednesday after discovering thousands of cigarettes concealed inside hundreds of pineapples. Inside several crates containing the fruit, purchased by an Israeli company, forces found thousands of cigarettes hidden right inside the pineapples.
1+All the crates were handed over to representatives of the Coordination and Liaison Administration for Judea and Samaria. An initial investigation revealed the truck was carrying a shipment purchased by an Israeli company that had been approved under the mechanism for bringing in aid through the private sector, and was meant to arrive at the Kerem Shalom crossing as humanitarian aid.
Following the discovery of the smuggling attempt, the truck and all its contents were confiscated and transferred for further handling by customs and other authorized agencies. In response to the unusual incident, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the ‘Territories,’ Major General Yoram Halevi, ordered an immediate freeze on the company’s authorization to bring aid into the Gaza Strip until further notice.
1+This isn’t an isolated smuggling attempt. Just a month ago, forces foiled another attempt to smuggle hundreds of bags of tobacco into the Strip disguised as a donation of wheelchairs. Following that incident, a security and criminal investigation was opened, and COGAT officials made clear: “This is a serious violation of the aid delivery mechanisms.”