The Israeli Navy sank a ship suspected of smuggling “equipment” for the Hamas terror group off the coast of the Gaza Strip early Sunday morning, the army said.
According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces, the ship left the Sinai Peninsula through the Mediterranean Sea towards Gaza, entering a prohibited area off the coast of the southern part of the Strip.
“Naval soldiers called through loudspeakers [the vessel]and when he did not respond to calls, the soldiers fired in accordance with the open fire policy,” the IDF said.
Footage shared on social media shows smoke rising from the ship.
According to IDF and Palestinian media reports, the suspects aboard the boat managed to swim ashore.
The IDF said “material” intended for Hamas was found aboard the ship, without giving further details. A report by the unsourced Ynet news site said the military believed the boat was carrying ammunition and anti-tank missiles.
???? خاص صفا| قاربE صيد فلسطيني دمّرته بحرية الاحتلال في عasser pic.twitter.com/37s8nUsKra
— وكالة صفا (@SafaPs) July 24, 2022
Over the years, Israel has put an end to multiple attempts to smuggle military equipment and weapons into the Strip, both by sea and through shipments entering Palestinian territory.
Earlier this year, the navy foiled an attempt to smuggle weapons-producing materials from Egypt to Gaza via the sea. Three Palestinians, including one previously imprisoned in Israel for similar offences, were arrested when troops Israeli authorities stopped a ship that was allegedly involved.
Israel has maintained a naval blockade of the Hamas-controlled coastal strip since the terror group violently seized control of Palestinian Authority territory in 2007. Israel says the measure is necessary to prevent Hamas from acquiring weapons abroad. Humanitarian aid is channeled to Palestinian enclaves through Israeli land crossings.
As part of the blockade, fishing boats and other seagoing vessels are required to stay close to the coast.
