Jerusalem, 24 March, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and Israel Police thwarted the smuggling of thousands of mobile phone SIM cards and heavy tobacco, which were apparently intended to reach the Gaza Strip under the guise of humanitarian aid. The security forces uncovered the smuggling attempt near the Allenby bridge crossing into Jordan, located north of Jericho.
Three Suspects in the smuggling were arrested: Two Palestinian residents of the village of Kharas near Hebron, aged 29 and 42, and one, aged 31, from the Bedouin settlement of Tel Sheva in the south.
The smuggling was uncovered last night (Monday), when a military force tasked with escorting humanitarian aid trucks to the Gaza Strip noticed a Palestinian vehicle that aroused their suspicion, after the vehicle was driving very close to those trucks in the Allenby Crossing parking lot in the operational area. Due to this suspicious behavior, IDF soldiers stopped the vehicle and its occupants, and in the meantime, the police were called.
During an inspection and search conducted together with the police, thousands of SIM cards, dozens of kilograms of tobacco, and more were located and seized.