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Israel Accuses Hamas of Using Cancer Patient to Smuggle Explosives | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Erez crossing. Reuters photo


Tel Aviv- The Israeli government has accused Hamas Movement of taking advantage of a woman struck with cancer to smuggle explosives for the purpose of using them in operations against targets in Israel.

Domestic security agency Shin Bet said the authorities arrested two sisters who attempted to smuggle the explosives hidden in medical supplies from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

Officials at the Erez crossing point between Israel and the coastal territory discovered the explosives hidden in tubes of “medical material”, it said, without giving further details.

“It is believed that they were to be used in Hamas terrorist attacks in the near future,” it said.

One of the sisters was heading for cancer treatment in Israel, while the other was accompanying her, it added.

It said the two were arrested and an investigation was ongoing.

Hundreds of Gaza residents enter Israel on a daily basis, among them are patients seeking medical help, traders, businessmen, international organizations staff members and students who study abroad.

The number of permits for medical treatment has increased in the past years.