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In pictures: Israel hands seized relics to Egypt

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

Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relic returned by Israel — 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.

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

Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relic returned by Israel — The haul included an assortment of figurines, some placed inside tombs as burial offerings...

... and others depicting Egyptian queens

Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relic returned by Israel — ... and others depicting Egyptian queens

There were also parts of inscriptions on stone in hieroglyphic writing

Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relic returned by Israel — There were also parts of inscriptions on stone in hieroglyphic writing

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

Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relics — Four of the items had been found in the suitcase of an Israeli antiques dealer trying to smuggle them into the country

The dealer said he had bought them in England

Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relic returned by Israel — The dealer said he had bought them in England

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

Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority Egyptian relic returned by Israel — The rest of the relics were held in an antiques store in Jerusalem. Egypt said they had been stolen.

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

Michal Ben-Ari Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (2nd left) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (2nd right) in Cairo. Photo: 9 December 2021 — They were officially handed over by Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (2nd left) to his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry (2nd right)

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