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JERUSALEM: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday said he instructed the army to turn the area at the border with Egypt into a closed military zone to combat weapons smuggling via drones.
“I instructed the IDF (military) to turn the area adjacent to the Israel-Egypt border into a closed military zone and to amend the rules of engagement accordingly in order to combat the drone threat that endangers the country’s security,” Katz said in a statement.
“Weapon smuggling via drones is part of the war in Gaza and is intended to arm our enemies, and all possible measures must be taken to stop it,” he added.
Israel and Egypt share a border that spans approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles).
On Sunday, the Israeli military said it identified a drone that “crossed from the west into Israeli territory in an attempt to smuggle weapons.”
It said troops intercepted the drone, which was carrying eight guns.
On Tuesday, it said it thwarted another smuggling attempt after intercepting a drone carrying 10 pistols which had “crossed from the eastern border” into Israeli territory.
Israel is bordered by Jordan to the east.
“Today we declare war on those involved in the smuggling — and anyone who breaches the forbidden area will be targeted,” Katz said Thursday.
In a post on X, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir praised Katz for taking the decision and for “recognizing that the trafficking that takes place there serves terrorist objectives.”