The sunrise can be seen from the top of Mount Sinai, Egypt. (Photo source: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters)
However, the context of smuggling around Gaza may not be surprising.
According to a new report, drones are increasingly being used to travel from Sinai to Gaza New Arabs.
While any such report should be welcomed by some suspicion, it is clear that drones are increasingly being used to smuggle items not only in the Middle East, but also around the world. The new Arabs, also known as Al-Araby al-Jadeed, are the pan-Arab news outlet in London.
Last year, many drone smuggling attempts were reported to have entered Israel. In late October last year, a drone carried weapons from Egypt. In November, a drone carrying weapons and ammunition crossed Israel from Egypt. Arab News noted: “The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it shot down a drone carrying weapons and crossed Israel from Egypt.” In January, another incident occurred, “the IDF determined and thwarted the smuggling attempt to enter Israel from Egypt overnight”, postal Reported at that time. In the second month, the IDF was knocked down by the IDF when he tried to mislead weapons and ammunition to NEGEV. In April, two other drones carrying weapons were also intercepted.
This background suggests that the new report on smuggling of Gaza may not be surprising. The report claims that recently, Gazans in Mawasi, a humanitarian area of the strip, woke up to the sound of a drone crash. “It’s obvious that the fall was a drone carrying an Israeli missile, flying over the tent, from the southern direction of Gaza on the Egypt-Palestinian border.”
The report claims drug smugglers were involved in drone operations. “They opened fire on anyone trying to get close to the area, and even ambulances and civil defense vehicles were not spared.” The report claims a drone type can carry payloads up to 50 kilograms. This seems to be a lot for these types of drones. The report also claims that some drones have landed in various areas of Rafa. The report also claims: “Some of these drones land in the eastern region of Rafa, especially the communities of Al-Shawka, Abu Halawa, Zalata, Sufa and al-Nasr. These areas are groups affiliated with Yasser Abu Shabab.” Apparently, the report is trying to portray Shabab of those who have recently gained much attention in Gaza, as somehow related to the issue.
Drones fly on top of high altitude mountain; illustrative. (Credit: Shutterstock/LZF)
Recent reports in Israeli media have shown that Sabab and his soldiers are worried about revenge if a ceasefire occurs. He was reportedly supported by Israel, but it is unclear whether his influence or control is.
Sources tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells source tells New Arabs. Obviously, the agenda here is to slander Abu Shabab, not discuss drones.
The report continues that smuggling by drone is not that new. It pointed out that it actually began at the beginning of the Gaza war. “This is an attempt to cross-border smuggle manually or through traditional methods, failed, completely exposed to the occupying forces and the Egyptian army active on the border and Sinai.”
The report then went on to quote sources, saying smuggling was linked to larger smuggling networks that linked Sinai to the Negev and West Bank, which included “exchanging weapons and drugs to gangs active in Israel.”
Sources told the source New Arabs. “He explained that with the closure of Rafah’s journey, preventing trucks from delivering goods and helping to enter the Gaza Strip, smugglers turned to the use of drones, which were purchased from multiple sources outside Egypt and sent to North Sinai with narcotics such as hashish and hashish and tramadol pills, [opiods]and other substances. ”
The report then spoke to sources who traded mobile phone transactions. That man told New Arabs After weeks of coordination and waiting, he was able to bring the “cell phone” through a drone from Sinai. The report noted that the drone carries 100 phones.
Smuggling networks date back 10 years ago
A security expert told the report that Sinai’s smuggling network dates back to 2014, during which time it had a protective edge. It should be recalled that the Mohamed Mosey government was overthrown in Egypt in 2013, ending the brief rule of the Muslim Brotherhood. It was the chaotic era of Sinai, when a large number of weapons smuggling occurred, fueling violence. “Some gangs and groups in the Gaza Strip are involved in building smuggling networks through tunnels, especially during the period before 2014, and are currently trying to use this situation to take advantage of their strengths,” the report said.
Drone smuggling in Gaza is a problem. In April, a report by Israel N12 showed that Hamas tried to bring Bedouin in Sinai to smuggle drones to Gaza. “The drone is only worth NIS 100,000 to 150,000 and can load up to 70 kilograms of cargo”. postal Reported at that time.
