By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A Palestinian legislator who tried to return from Egypt to Gaza was briefly detained Tuesday when found to be carrying US$2 million (€1.56 million) in a suitcase, Egyptian security officials said.
The incident appeared to be another case of the Hamas-led government trying to circumvent the international sanctions on bank transfers to the Palestinian Authority.
The Egyptian authorities seized the money, questioned the legislator, Mushir al-Masri and released him, the security officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Al-Masri could not reached for comment, but a
Palestinian diplomat in Rafah, the border town where the crossing is located, confirmed the incident. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity.
The diplomat and the security officials said Egypt had contacted the Palestinian Authority about the money.
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