Soldiers evacuated to hospital
Photo: Reuters
Soldier: Terrorists fired missiles at post
Soldier wounded in Sunday's shooting incident on Gaza border recounts fierce battle with terrorists, says gunmen attempted to climb post's watchtower but were warded off by soldiers; four injured soldiers hospitalized in Soroka Hospital
An all out war - this is the term IDF soldiers hospitalized in the Soroka Hospital used to describe the battle that ensued Sunday morning after terrorists attacked an army post near the Gaza border with missiles and light weapons. Eight gunmen, who apparently infiltrated Israel through a tunnel leading from the Strip, took part in the strike. Two of them were killed during fire exchanges with army forces.
The terrorists killed two troops, one of them an officer, and kidnapped a third soldier.
Attack
Hanan Greenberg
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The soldier hurt in the eye expressed concern for one of his friends and kept inquiring about his situation. He later recounted the incident: "The battle went on for quite some time. They didn't fire one missile, but close to 20. we were out patrolling at another location and heard gunshots. We returned to the area and saw terrorists firing RPG missiles at the tank and hurling grenades at the armored personnel carrier."
'Terrorists climbed on watchtower'
The regiment's company commander arrived at the hospital and spoke with relatives of the wounded soldiers. "The terrorists dug a tunnel under the fence's route and came out in Israeli territory. They later split into two teams: One group fired at the tank and APC, while the other tried to climb on the watchtower at the post," he described.
"The soldiers identified the terrorists, fired and hurled grenades at them and killed them. The rest of the terrorists returned to Palestinian territory," he added.
Dr. Gadi Shaked, head of the Trauma Unit at Soroka, told Ynet: "The first injured received at the hospital was wounded by a missile or an explosive device and sustained head injury and suffered from very severe smoke inhalation. He needed to be ventilated and was hospitalized at the intensive care unit."
"Another soldier arrived with light shrapnel injuries. The third soldier is suffering from shrapnel injuries in his face. He will need to undergo eye surgery. At his request he will be transferred to the Sheba Medical Center, which is located closer to his home," he added.
