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The cigarette-filled pineapples were transported in a truck carrying a shipment purchased by an Israeli company, intended to reach the Kerem Shalom Crossing as part of humanitarian aid.
An attempt to smuggle thousands of cigarettes into the Gaza Strip, hidden inside hundreds of pineapples, was thwarted at the Lachish crossing on Wednesday, according to the IDF.
Personnel from the Land Crossings Authority at the Defense Ministry detected the smuggling attempt and turned the findings over to representatives of the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
The cigarette-filled pineapples were transported in a truck carrying a shipment purchased by an Israeli company, intended to reach the Kerem Shalom Crossing as part of humanitarian aid. The shipment had been previously approved under the mechanism for bringing in aid through the private sector.
Pineapples filled with cigarettes intended to be smuggled across the border into Gaza. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)
Company's access to the Gaza Strip suspended by COGATThe truck and all its contents were confiscated and transferred to customs and other relevant authorities for further handling.
In response to the incident, the Head of COGAT, Maj. Gen Yoram Halevi ordered the immediate suspension of the company's approval to bring aid into the Gaza Strip until further notice.