Israel foils attempt to smuggle tobacco into Gaza, hidden in wheelchair shipment

Security forces thwarted an attempt to smuggle hundreds of tobacco pouches into the Gaza Strip today after finding the packages concealed inside a shipment of wheelchairs, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) says.

Inspectors from the Defense Ministry’s Land Crossings Authority, working alongside COGAT, discovered the hidden tobacco during a security inspection of aid destined for Gaza at the Tarqumiya Crossing in the West Bank.

COGAT chief Maj. Gen. Yoram Halevi ordered an investigation into the incident, the agency says.

COGAT describes the alleged smuggling attempt as a “cynical exploitation” of a humanitarian medical aid shipment, and says organizations coordinating aid deliveries bear responsibility for the contents of their cargo.

“While Israel allows and facilitates the entry of humanitarian aid and medical equipment, Hamas and other actors continue to exploit every opportunity, including medical shipments, for smuggling and military buildup,” Halevi says in a statement.

“We will therefore continue to strengthen our monitoring mechanisms, conduct thorough inspections of every truck, and act with determination and zero tolerance against anyone who attempts to exploit the humanitarian assistance mechanism for the benefit of terrorist organizations,” he adds.