In pictures: Israel hands seized relics to Egypt

Image source, Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority

Image caption, The items had been in the possessions of a licensed dealer and a smuggler

9 December 2021

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.

Image source, Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority

Image caption, The haul included an assortment of figurines, some placed inside tombs as burial offerings...

Image source, Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority

Image caption, ... and others depicting Egyptian queens

Image source, Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority

Image caption, There were also parts of inscriptions on stone in hieroglyphic writing

Image source, Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority

Image caption, Four of the items had been found in the suitcase of an Israeli antiques dealer trying to smuggle them into the country

Image source, Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority

Image caption, The dealer said he had bought them in England

Image source, Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority

Image caption, The rest of the relics were held in an antiques store in Jerusalem. Egypt said they had been stolen.

Image source, Michal Ben-Ari

Image caption, They were officially handed over by Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (2nd left) to his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry (2nd right)