Report: Armed militias enforce Israeli siege on Gaza aid trucks inside Egypt
CAIRO, Dec. 14 (YPA) -The Israeli occupation has reportedly begun relying on armed groups operating inside Egyptian territory to tighten the siege on the Gaza Strip, with complicity of the ruling regime in Egypt.
Aid trucks bound for the Gaza Strip are now subjected to additional, humiliating inspection procedures that are every bit as harsh as the restrictions imposed by Israeli occupation itself.
Palestinian and Egyptian sources told The New Arab’s Arabic-language site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the groups are reportedly inspecting vehicles under the guise of attempting to halt the smuggling of materials “prohibited” by “Israel”.
These groups are reportedly affiliated with the so-called ” Union of Sinai Tribes … Association”, affiliated with the well-known Sinai businessman Ibrahim al-Arjani.
Egyptian Militias on the Border Implement Tel Aviv’s Orders
The armed groups are reportedly stationed at several points on the international highway linking the Egyptian city of Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah in the war-battered Gaza Strip.
The individuals stop trucks headed towards Gaza, whether carrying humanitarian relief or goods intended for Palestinian traders, meticulously looking for allegedly banned goods.
This behavior is seen as the literal implementation of Israeli dictates, but carried out in Egyptian banner .
Testimonies from truck drivers reveal that the inspection process is chaotic and aggressive.
They told Al-Araby that armed men routinely stop trucks, unload several boxes, and manually search them.
They added that all vehicles are inspected without exception. The driver also said such searches often result in the destruction of goods, with the armed individuals often tearing open bags of flour and other foodstuffs, rendering them unfit for consumption.
In the event that a “prohibited” item is found, the armed groups will photograph it, confiscate it entirely – including the truck – before transferring it to warehouses belonging to Sons of Sinai, owned by the controversial businessman Ibrahim Al-Organi (also spelt Al-Arjani).
Siege by Money: Extortion of Palestinian Merchants
In another deeply concerning dimension, a Palestinian merchant residing in Cairo, who requested anonymity for security reasons, revealed that Palestinian traders are forced to pay exorbitant sums to the Sons of Sinai company as guarantees.
He said that the company requires a security deposit of up to one million USD to ensure that traders do not import any materials “banned” by “Israel”, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The merchant added that coordinating the entry of each truck into the Gaza Strip costs approximately $100,000, paid to the Al-Organi’s group to facilitate the passage of goods through Egypt to the Kerem Abu Salem crossing, and from there into the Gaza Strip.
He pointed out that if any prohibited materials are found in the shipment, the company imposes a fine of $70,000 per truck, which is deducted directly from the deposited security amount, in addition to confiscating the entire shipment without returning it to its owner.
Cairo Accused by Critics on Both Sides of the Border
In a shocking twist, Cairo’s efforts to tighten the noose around Gaza are no longer criticized solely by Palestinians. The irony is that voices within “Israel” itself have also leveled accusations, arguing that the closure of the Rafah crossing and Egypt’s stringent procedures are fundamental to the success of the siege. This stance effectively casts the Cairo regime as an active co-conspirator in the policy of mass starvation.
Thus, the Gaza siege is being reinforced by a multi-layered system involving an Israeli wall and weapons, supplemented by Arab inspections, local paramilitary forces, and economic blackmail—a dark illustration of formalized collaboration with the occupation.
@E.Y.M