Palestinian gunmen broke through Israel's border fortifications around Gaza on early Saturday afternoon and exchanged fire with Israeli troops inside Israel, the military said. The attack took place after the gunmen entered an unmanned IDF outpost at Kissufim crossing between central Gaza and Israel.
Army officials believe that the gunmen intended to kidnap an Israeli soldier, and that this was why they came so close to the army outpost. The terror cell was well-equipped and armed, a fact indicating it has thoroughly prepared for the operation.
Four gunmen, from the al-Quds Brigades - the military wing of Islamic Jihad - and the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades - Fatah's military wing, were responsible for the attack. According to the Palestinians, some of the gunmen escaped during the gunbattle, and two were still inside the post, one of them dead.
IDF force in Kissufim (Photo: AP)
However, according to military sources, three gunmen were killed before and during the gunfight, and the fourth escaped.
Israeli aircraft responded early Sunday morning, the military said, attacking a building used by Islamic Jihad officials and an arms workshop run by what it called "Fatah gunmen."
Palestinian security officials said damage was caused at both sites but there were no casualties there. They said, however, that two people were injured in a third strike near another Islamic Jihad office.
Abu Ahmed, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad, told local radio stations that the four gunmen were meant to snatch a soldier but the attempt was foiled when Israeli helicopter gunships arrived on the scene.
“The aim of the operation was to withdraw with the soldier in captivity,” he said, “but the participation of Israeli helicopters prevented that.”
IDF sources reported that look-outs identified a vehicle marked with "TV" insignia approaching the crossing from the Palestinian side
of the fence. According to the sources, the Palestinians made an opening in the fence and infiltrated Israeli territory.
According to IDF Southern Command, the military was aware that an attempt at violence might be made and, in this way, was able to contain the attack. Following the incident, several units who were on call arrived at the area.
Earlier Saturday, following several terror alerts, IDF forces also entered southern Gaza
in a limited and localized manner, in order to search for weapons caches and wanted operatives.
Reuters, AP, Hanan Greenberg, and Ali Waked contributed to this report
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