Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Egyptian border is a closed military zone and the IDF was authorized to fire on any unauthorized person or drones in the area. 

“I have instructed the IDF to designate the area adjacent to the Israel-Egypt border as a closed military zone and to adjust the rules of engagement accordingly in order to combat the drone threat that endangers the state’s security,” Katz wrote on X. “Today we are declaring war on those involved in the smuggling – and anyone who enters the prohibited area will be struck.”

הנחיתי את צה”ל להפוך את השטח הצמוד לגבול ישראל-מצרים לשטח צבאי סגור ולשנות בהתאם את הוראות הפתיחה באש כדי להילחם באיום הרחפנים שמסכן את ביטחון המדינה.

במקביל סיכמתי עם ראש השב”כ דוד זיני כי השב”כ יפעל להגדרת איום הברחות האמל”ח עם רחפנים כאיום טרור.

הברחות הנשק באמצעות רחפנים הם… pic.twitter.com/hprKhpupkt

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) November 6, 2025

Haaretz reports the IDF is reviewing the order as the people involved in the smuggling are Israeli citizens retrieving contraband dropped by drones from Egypt. The Israeli military is calling for civil authorities to handle the arrest of the Israeli smugglers. 

Some in the IDF warn that firing on smugglers could lead to civilian deaths. 

Katz claimed contraband was weapons that were used in Gaza. “In parallel, I have agreed with the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, that the Shin Bet will act to define the threat of arms smuggling with drones as a terrorism threat.” He continued, “Arms smuggling by means of drones is part of the war in Gaza and is intended to arm our enemies, and all measures must be taken to stop it.”