Israeli Teenagers Cycle into Egypt, Get Arrested and Sent Back

The Kerem Shalom border crossing where two Israeli teenagers were returned from Egypt Monday. Photo shows Israeli soldiers rest at the shadow of their tank at the crossing on the border with the southern Gaza Strip in August 2009. (DAVID BUIMOVITCH/AFP/Getty Images)

Two teenagers on bicycles crossed the border from Israel into Egypt on Monday evening and were arrested by Egyptian security forces, according to a spokesperson from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

Both teenagers, Israelis, were returned into Israel via the Kerem Shalom crossing approximately four hours later, at 3 a.m. Israeli time, IDF said. Kerem Shalom is a border crossing near the Gaza Strip-Israel-Egypt borders.

The spokesperson emphasized that the cooperation between the Egyptian forces and the IDF was “very successful” and allowed a quick resolution to the incident.

“It seemed to be a mistake,” the spokesperson said of the teens’ actions. “Just a silly mistake.”

Further details of the teenagers were not available at time of publishing.