The Ministry of Defense Crossing Authority officials at the Kerem Shalom crossing thwarted an attempt to smuggle crates containing dual use substances used in the creation of explosives and explosive devices. The materials were discovered within a shipment of medical equipment enroute to Gaza.

The materials seized by the examiners were taken to a laboratory for testing. The lab identified the substances as a central component used in the preparation of explosive charges and in the high-trajectory industry within Gaza. An investigation is currently being carried out by the Israeli Police and other security forces.

The laboratory for substance identification was set up several months ago at the Kerem Shalom crossing in order to locate problematic materials whose entry into Gaza is forbidden for fear of reaching terrorist forces. Using advanced equipment, the lab tests a wide range of materials, from gases, liquids, powders, solids, metals and others before they enter Gaza.

The laboratory is a joint project of the MOD Crossing Authority, Shin Bet, and Israel Police Crossing Department of the Israel Police- whose operational purpose is to identify the type of material within as short a time frame as possible from the point of sampling. This is in order to minimize the danger to crossing officials and in order to improve the quality of service and to minimize as much as possible any delays in the entry of goods into Gaza.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)