Israel seizes shipment of military clothing headed for Gaza

Israeli customs officials on Monday seized a consignment of military gear, thwarting a large-scale smuggling attempt to Gaza, Ashdod port authorities said.

While inspecting cargo destined for the coastal enclave, Ashdod port officials discovered the banned items.

This included thousands of vests, military boots and camouflage-colored heavy jackets.

The shipment, which came from China, was en route to Gaza and had it not been discovered, would have been transferred by truck via the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

All items were confiscated and handed over to the army.

Monday’s discovery is the latest action by customs inspectors to thwart the Hamas terror group, which controls the Gaza Strip, in its goal of obtaining weapons and military gear.

Israel says the blockade it imposed on the coastal enclave a decade ago, after Hamas seized power, is necessary to prevent the terror group from smuggling in weapons to Gaza or the materials need to make them.

Goods heading for Gaza are first shipped to Israel for inspection and then trucked into the Palestinian territory after items deemed a security risk are removed.