Six Turkish nationals were arrested by Israeli security forces after allegedly entering Israel illegally from Jordan by crossing the Dead Sea in an inflatable dinghy, Israeli media reported. Authorities are investigating the circumstances and motives behind the incident.
According to Israeli media reports, the incident occurred overnight from Saturday to Sunday. Surveillance systems detected the vessel moving from the Jordanian side towards the Israeli shore of the Dead Sea.
Four Border Police units were deployed near the settlement of Avnat, in coordination with Israeli military forces and supported by aerial surveillance assets.
The six men were located after coming ashore on the Israeli side and moving westward. They were arrested without any exchange of fire or injuries.
The Israeli media outlet i24NEWS reported that those detained are Turkish citizens and that the case is being examined by the Shin Bet internal security agency to determine the circumstances and motives behind their illegal entry.
According to reports by Ynet and Walla, Israeli authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the men were irregular migrants seeking to enter Israel in search of work. However, the fact that they are Turkish nationals has raised additional concerns.
Other Israeli media reports said the men were unarmed and that, based on the information available so far, there is no indication of a terrorist motive.
The identities of those arrested have not been made public. Authorities have also not disclosed the route they followed to reach Jordan or whether their movement was organised by third parties.
Source: CNA
