Major Waste Smuggling Attempt Foiled in the West Bank

A targeted enforcement operation this week at crossings across Judea and Samaria stopped several trucks carrying waste that was apparently meant for dumping and burning at illegal landfill sites in Palestinian Authority territory. The operation was led by Unit “David,” which operates under the Civil Administration’s environmental staff officer, and was financed by Israel’s Environmental Protection Ministry.

During the raid, authorities seized trucks transporting about 110 tons of waste of various types. The trucks were intercepted at several major crossings, including Mazmoria, the tunnels checkpoint, and Qalandiya. All of the trucks and their cargo were confiscated and taken to an IDF impound lot for further handling by enforcement officials.

The Civil Administration said that in a series of enforcement actions over the past month, the unit has seized nearly half a million tons of waste intended to be burned in Judea and Samaria. The effort is part of a broader campaign led by a joint task force in the Civil Administration, which runs a coordinated system involving all security bodies in the fight against air pollution in Judea and Samaria.