Israeli security personnel on Thursday intercepted electric motors hidden inside household appliances which were being smuggled from Israel into the Gaza Strip.
The devices were concealed inside a shipment of used refrigerators and washing machines aboard an Israeli truck which attempted to enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Security forces were called in after the shipment aroused the suspicion of inspectors at the crossing.
Shin Bet, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and Defense Ministry officials then uncovered the engines inside the used appliances, and confiscated them pending further investigation.
Security officials said they suspect the engines were bound for terrorist groups operating in the Gaza Strip.
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It was not made immediately clear whether any arrests were made in relation to the incident.
Israel controls the movement of people and of goods at two of Gaza’s three crossings, while Egypt controls the third. Israeli restrictions on Gaza are designed to prevent Hamas, a terrorist group in control of the territory, from amassing weapons.
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