Gaza-bound explosives that Israel intercepted at the Kerem Shalom border crossing. Photo: Israeli Defense Ministry.

JNS.org – Israel prevented a shipment containing several tons of explosives from reaching the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Defense Ministry revealed on Wednesday.

The shipment was intercepted at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, through which goods enter Hamas-ruled Gaza on a daily basis. The explosives were discovered thanks to an innovative laboratory set up at the crossing that tests suspicious materials.

Border inspectors recently stopped a truck that had arrived at the crossing carrying a load of cargo purported to be motor oil. Once samples of the oil were tested by the lab, it was discovered that the truck was actually hauling materials used in the large-scale production of explosives.

“The lab’s task is to identify substances banned from Gaza over concerns that they will reach terrorist organizations,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement. “The lab’s ability to sample and analyze materials within a short period of time will enable the crossing to improve its services and minimize delays in the entry of goods into Gaza.”