Israel Closes Border Zone with Egypt Over Claims of Drone Weapons Smuggling
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Thursday that he had ordered the military to designate the area along the Egyptian border as a closed security zone, claiming that this move is part of Israel’s efforts to curb drone-based weapons smuggling, according to Al Arabiya.
Katz also claimed that weapon smuggling via drones is part of Gaza War, aimed at arming hostile forces, noting that Israel should take all necessary measures to halt it.
“I instructed the IDF (military) to turn the area adjacent to the Israel–Egypt border into a closed military zone and to amend the rules of engagement accordingly in order to combat the drone threat that endangers the country’s security,” Katz said in a statement.
On Sunday, the Israeli military also reported that it had detected a drone that crossed Israeli airspace from the west in an attempted weapons-smuggling operation.
“Today we declare war on those involved in the smuggling — and anyone who breaches the forbidden area will be targeted,” Katz added on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has greatly welcomed Katz’s move, commending him for “recognizing that the trafficking taking place there serves terrorist objectives.”
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