Gazan cancer patient caught smuggling explosives into Israel: Shin Bet

Judah Ari Gross

The Shin Bet security service says Wednesday it foiled an attempt to smuggle explosives into Israel from the Gaza Strip through the Erez Crossing.

According to the agency, the explosive material was hidden inside tubes containing cancer medication.

The explosives were “sent by Hamas and it is believed that they were meant to be used to carry out attacks in Israel in the near future,” the Shin Bet says.

The explosives were in the possession of two women, sisters, who live in the Gaza Strip.

They received permits to enter Israel as one of the two sisters suffers from cancer and was traveling to an Israeli hospital for treatment.

The Shin Bet says the attempted smuggling was an attempt “to take advantage of the humanitarian aid and medical assistance that Israel gives residents of the Strip in order to conduct terror attacks in Israel.”

The explosives are found during a security check and are disposed of by police sappers, the Shin Bet says.

The two women are held for questioning by the Shin Bet.