Skip to content

In pictures: Israel hands seized relics to Egypt

News imageYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relic returned by IsraelYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority
The items had been in the possessions of a licensed dealer and a smuggler

Israel has handed over to Egypt 95 relics which had been smuggled into the country or found for sale in Jerusalem.

It said it was returning the items "at the request of Egyptian authorities and as a gesture of goodwill" during a rare visit by Israel's foreign minister to Cairo.

News imageYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relic returned by IsraelYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority
The haul included an assortment of figurines, some placed inside tombs as burial offerings...
News imageYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relic returned by IsraelYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority
... and others depicting Egyptian queens
News imageYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relic returned by IsraelYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority
There were also parts of inscriptions on stone in hieroglyphic writing
News imageYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relicsYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority
Four of the items had been found in the suitcase of an Israeli antiques dealer trying to smuggle them into the country
News imageYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relic returned by IsraelYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority
The dealer said he had bought them in England
News imageYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relic returned by IsraelYuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority
The rest of the relics were held in an antiques store in Jerusalem. Egypt said they had been stolen.
News imageMichal Ben-Ari Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (2nd left) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (2nd right) in Cairo. Photo: 9 December 2021Michal Ben-Ari
They were officially handed over by Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (2nd left) to his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry (2nd right)

All pictures subject to copyright

More from the BBC