At least 28 drones managed to cross into the Gaza Strip in recent months, Army Radio reported Wednesday.
The defense establishment has become increasingly concerned that weapons and supplies smuggled across the Gaza border in this way will be used by Hamas for terror operations.
Smuggling into the Gaza Strip is carried out through various methods – with drones being an increasingly prominent strategy, whether they come through the Egyptian border or from Israel itself.
The military estimates that most successful drone incursions have ultimately reached Hamas, and notes that the drones in themselves are a highly valuable asset to the terror group, even excluding the actual military value of goods smuggled by them.
Drones are often used to attack troops operating in the area, by strapping explosives to them or by helping terrorist operatives observe troop positions and movements. Hamas is reportedly learning from Hezbollah’s increasingly effective deployment of explosive drones in Lebanon, which have killed 16 Israeli soldiers and wounded many more in recent months.
IDF, Israel Police countering smuggling attempts into Gaza
Despite Army Radio’s report, the IDF and Israel Police have made extensive efforts to counter smuggling attempts into the strip.
On 17 June, Israel Police and the Defense Ministry confiscated property linked to drone smuggling into the Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Israel Katz imposed economic sanctions on those involved in drone smuggling as part of a broader policy aimed at terrorists and the economic and logistical systems that enable their activity.
“Anyone who smuggles weapons, equipment, or funds to terrorist organizations in Gaza is part of the terrorist network itself and will pay a heavy price,” Katz said in a statement.
More recently, two Bedouin were indicted over suspicions of smuggling approximately 45 kilograms of drugs through the Egyptian border by way of drones on Monday.
According to the report, 89 drone smuggling attempts have been thwarted since January. As such, there have been at least 117 smuggling attempts via drone in just six months.
“The IDF claims that all smuggling attempts intercepted so far contained drugs only. However, as noted, dozens were not intercepted, and these figures represent only the cases known to the military. It must be taken into account that the IDF did not detect all drones in real time, and not all cases are known,” the Army Radio report said.
Yanir Yagna contributed to this report.
