IDF jeep hit by anti-tank missile near Gaza border; 4 injured
Two soldiers seriously wounded, two others moderately injured after terrorists target IDF patrol traveling near Karni crossing. Heavy fire exchange follows; Strip’s medical source say four people killed, 20 injured
Yoav Zitun, Elior Levy
Four soldiers were wounded Saturday when an IDF force patrolling near Karni crossing was hit by terrorist fire. The military jeep sustained a direct hit by an anti-tank missile.
Two soldiers sustained serious injuries and were airlifted to the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. Two others were rushed to the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon in moderate condition.
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The fire was identified as emanating from a location east of the Gaza Strip neighborhoods of Zeitun and Sajaiya. The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades – the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s (PFLP) military wing – have claimed responsibility for the attack.
IDF forces scrambled to the scene and a heavy fire exchange followed, with the IDF using tanks and machine-guns to neutralize the threat.
Gaza sources said that IAF helicopters were flying over the Strip’s southern and eastern areas, as well.
IDF soldiers at the scene (Photo: Roee Idan)
Gaza medical sources reported of four fatalities and at least 20 casualties, as a result of the IDF’s shelling. The causalities were taken to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
Ayman al-Sahbani, a doctor at Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, said all the casualties were civilians and among the wounded were children.
Hamas security forces have reportedly cleared all posts in the vicinity of the scene fearing an imminent Israeli strike.
The IDF confirmed the incident, saying that „An anti-tank missile was fired at an IDF force on routine patrol near the security fence in northern Gaza Strip. Four soldiers were wounded as a result. IDF forces returned fire.
„The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians or IDF soldiers and will continue to fight any element which employs terror against the State of Israel.
„The Hamas terror group is responsible for any such acts,” the statement said.
The GOC Southern Command has launched an inquiry into the incident. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Benny Gantz has called for a security assessment later in the evening.
The IDF has ordered the residents of the Eshkol and Sha’ar Hanegev regional councils to remain within close proximity to shelters.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak commented on the incident, saying: „The IDF reacted with force to the event and an additional response will be determined in the following days. We will not abide any escalation in the situation on the southern fence.”
Ilana Curiel, Neri Brenner and Carmit Reuven contributed to this report
Egy izraeli harckocsi tüzet nyitott szombaton a Gázai övezetben, és legalább három palesztint megölt, tizenötöt megsebesített – jelentette a helyi mentőszolgálat.
Az incidens Gázavárostól keletre történt, az áldozatok – szemtanúk beszámolói szerint – polgári személyek. Az izraeli hadsereg egyelőre nem erősítette meg a támadást, amelyik az elmúlt hónapok egyik legtöbb áldozatot követelő incidense.
A harckocsi azt követően nyitott tüzet, hogy palesztin harcosok a határövezetben megtámadtak egy izraeli járőröző dzsipet.
Az elmúlt hetekben több robbantásos merényletet is elkövettek izraeli katonák ellen a szigorúan ellenőrzött határrégióban.
A Gázai övezetben mintegy másfél millió ember él, zömében menekültek. A régió a Hamász radikális szervezet ellenőrzése alatt áll, amely nem ismeri el Izrael állam létezésének jogát.
