Customs agents in Ashdod uncovered 16 tons of explosive material destined for the Gaza Strip during an inspection in July, according to a Thursday statement from the Israel Tax Authority Spokesperson.
The statement explained that Ashdod Customs and the National Cargo Inspection Center in Ashdod confiscated two shipping containers headed for Gaza weighing 54 tons which were supposed to contain bags of plaster.
Inspectors noticed that some of the material was not actually gypsum - the main constituent of plaster. It was taken to a laboratory for testing, where technicians verified that the substance was in fact ammonium chloride.
In total, 16 tons of ammonium chloride, commonly used to make dry cell batteries, were found.
According to the Tax Authority, ammonium chloride is used by terrorist organizations in Gaza in the manufacturing of rockets that are launched toward Israel.
Latest in series of weapons smuggling attempts related to Gaza
The seizure of the material for rockets comes just a little over a week after exports through the Kerem Shalom crossing were temporarily halted after the Defense Ministry thwarted an attempt to smuggle kilograms of explosive material from the Gaza Strip.
Inspectors at the Kerem Shalom crossing found high explosive material hidden among a shipment of clothing in that incident. The defense establishment suspects that the explosives were intended for terrorist elements, although the statement did not clarify where the shipment was headed.
In early August, the Defense Ministry thwarted an attempt to smuggle reconnaissance drones into Gaza through the Erez crossing which were intended for terrorist groups in the Strip.
In May, inspectors at the Kerem Shalom crossing discovered firearms, silencers and ammunition hidden in a shipment of furniture headed from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank. The movement of goods at the crossing was not halted after that incident.