Egypt-Israel border
Photo: AP
IDF kills Egyptian cigarette smuggler on border
Force spots smugglers from both sides of border meeting south of Mount Harif, orders them to halt. When suspects begin to flee into Israel, troops open fire, seriously injuring Egyptian civilian who dies of wounds in hospital
Day after reports of arrest of Israeli journalist by Egyptian forces, another border incident takes place. An Egyptian citizen was killed by IDF fire Monday night, when an Israeli force opened fire at a suspicious group on the border, south of Mount Harif.
The deceased and his partners are believed to have been attempting to smuggle cigarettes into Israel.
Earlier Monday, it was reported that Israeli journalist Yotam Feldman was arrested in the Egyptian town of Rafah after being caught trying to infiltrate into Israel with a group of African migrants, as part of an investigative report he was preparing for Channel 10.
The shooting incident took place shortly after 11pm Israel time, in an area along the border that is not fenced. An IDF force spotted two vehicles approaching the Israeli side of the border, apparently in an attempt to make contact with a man approaching from the Egyptian side to receive a "delivery".
The force ordered the group to half, but when the suspects began to flee into Israeli territory, the soldiers opened fire. None of the suspects were detained, but scans of the area later revealed a seriously injured Egyptian citizen – most likely the smuggler that came from the other side of the border. He was evacuated to hospital for treatment, where he died of his wounds.
The IDF continued combing the area into the night, and uncovered the suspects' abandoned vehicle, as well as other sings supporting suspicions that the group was smuggling cigarettes. Police searches concluded several hours later, with no sign of the smugglers or the merchandise found.
The Egypt-Israel border has in recent years become a site for extensive criminal activity, including the smuggling of cigarettes and drugs, as well as terror activity.
