The Israeli army has asserted that Defense Minister Yisrael Katz’s orders to turn the Egyptian border into a closed military zone is dangerous and impractical, RT reported on Monday.
Senior Israeli army officers told the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz that Katz’s decision to change the rules of engagement on the Egyptian border to counter smuggling via drones is dangerous and unenforceable.
The officers stated that the drones launch from approximately 20 kilometers into Egyptian territory and travel a similar distance into Israel, making it impossible to spot the smugglers.
This order is incompatible with the nature of the area, the officers warned, and imposes tasks on the army that it is not authorized to perform which could endanger Israeli civilians.
The Defense Minister described smuggling from Egypt as a “terrorist threat” and ordered the change in the rules of engagement against smugglers.
However, the defense establishment argues that along the approximately 200-kilometer border, there are Israeli settlements and areas frequented by travelers, and warns that Katz’s order could unintentionally harm civilians.
Egypt’s border declared ‘closed military zone’
On November 6, Israel Katz declared the border area with Egypt a closed military zone.
The declaration followed a meeting that discussed the “drone threat” along the Israeli-Egyptian border.
He also ordered an amendment to the rules of engagement, authorizing the use of force against any unauthorized individuals entering the restricted area, specifically targeting drone operators and smugglers.
This decision came in the wake of large-scale arms smuggling operations that had been ongoing for months, according to Hebrew media reports citing the Ministry of Defense.
Hebrew media outlets noted that security forces have recently focused their efforts on the Egyptian border in an attempt to combat smuggling.
Smuggling across the border declines
According to data published by the Israeli army on Monday regarding the activities of the 80th Division in recent weeks, attempts to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Israel are declining.
The data indicates that the smuggling of approximately 130 drones was thwarted, and about 85 weapons were seized – including two machine guns, 16 rifles, and 66 pistols – some of which originated in Yemen and Iran.
The army says there is an ongoing “learning competition” along the border with smugglers, whose numbers on the Israeli side are estimated to be between 100-300.
Smugglers are using new and more sophisticated drones and tactics each time, complicating matters for the military, which must constantly adapt to the ever-evolving situation.
It takes only a few minutes from the moment a drone takes off from one side until it reaches the other.
These “drones” are large vehicles capable of carrying 80 kilograms, equivalent to the weight of an adult.
Israeli estimates indicate that thousands of weapons have entered Israel across the Egyptian border in the past two years.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, the army classifies these smuggling operations as a strategic threat and calls for them to be considered hostile terrorist activity.
Israel says there is cooperation with the Egyptians in the border region, noting that the drones themselves are only in Israel and not in Egypt.
