Israel halts UNICEF aid shipments
Photo: Leo Correa /AP/TT

Israel halts UNICEF aid shipments to Gaza over nicotine smuggling

· updated

Israel will stop emergency supplies from Egypt to Gaza being delivered via the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). The reason given on Tuesday is that the shipments contain contraband.

Israel has notified UNICEF leadership of the decision, and that it was based on the discovery of attempts to smuggle nicotine products through the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

The military authority COGAT, responsible for civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, said the delivery ban is in effect until UNICEF has investigated the smuggling and issued an explanation.

The products were smuggled in glass bottles hidden in boxes of hygiene products.

A representative of the UN agency OCHA says the Kerem Shalom border crossing is currently the only possible entry point for humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza.

Corrected: An earlier version of the text listed an incorrect UN body.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers

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