IDF: Egyptian citizen who crossed the border near Nitzana arrested

The IDF announced that an Egyptian citizen who crossed the border fence from Egypt into Israel near the Nitzana area was arrested. The suspect was identified through surveillance, arrested, and taken for questioning. The incident occurred less than a year after Defense Minister Katz instructed that the area adjacent to the border be declared a closed military zone.

The IDF announced that an Egyptian citizen crossed the border fence from Egyptian territory into Israeli territory during the night (between Monday and Tuesday) in the Nitzana sector. According to an IDF spokesperson, the suspect was identified through military surveillance, arrested after crossing the fence, and taken for further investigation by security forces. The IDF stated that it "views the incident with severity and continues to maintain high readiness for defense in the sector. The incident is under investigation." The incident occurred less than a year after Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed that the area adjacent to the border be declared a closed military zone and announced that the rules of engagement "would be changed accordingly." The article mentions past incidents on the Egypt border, including the capture of a smuggling cell in August and a case where a smuggler's vehicle overturned and a suspect was killed in September 2025.