Hamas security official accuses Israel of smuggling drugs and espionage equipment into strip

A Hamas security official told Al Jazeera Arabic that Israel is trying to create issues that will lead to the destabilisation of the Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera Arabic reported on Thursday. 

The official said Hamas had prevented attempts by Israel to smuggle spy equipment and new phones to collaborators in the Gaza Strip.

The official also said agents had been smuggling large quantities of drugs from Israeli intelligence officers assigned to the aid teams managing the aid distribution points. The official said the drugs were being brought in and used to “ensnare young people, bring them down, and assign them to security and espionage missions”. 

Middle East Eye reported on 27 June how opioids were reported to be found in flour bags distributed by the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund.