IDF: Thwarted attack was kidnapping attempt
Military sources say gunmen arrived at Kissufim border crossing in two vehicles intending to kidnap Israeli soldier. IAF, ground forces strike cars, killing six. Palestinians confirm attack attempt
IDF forces killed six Palestinian gunmen en route to carry out an attack near Israel's border with central Gaza on Thursday afternoon.
An initial investigation of the incident discovered that the gunmen were part of a joint Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades terror cell, which had apparently planned to kidnap an Israeli soldier.
The terrorists reached the area in two vehicles – a car and a truck – armed with numerous firearms and possibly explosive devices as well.
Military sources said that the gunmen were advancing towards the Kissufim crossing in two cars when IAF helicopters targeted their vehicles, thwarting the attack. Ground forces also fired on the gunmen.
The terrorists apparently planned to open fire on the army base, kidnap a soldier and escape into Gaza.
The army said no soldiers were wounded and no damage was reported.
The attack
Palestinians reported that the Islamic Jihad and Fatah-allied Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades were behind the intended attack.
A spokesman for Islamic Jihad, Abu Ahmed, said a pickup truck crashed through the fence in central Gaza first, allowing an armored jeep to drive through.
The truck blew up inside the Israeli base and militants inside the jeep began attacking soldiers with light arms and hand grenades, and an Israeli watchtower was blown up.
Earlier on Thursday the IDF killed three Hamas gunmen and wounded 12 others in central Gaza, Palestinian sources reported. According to the report, a tank fired a shell at a Hamas cell that opened fire
at IDF tanks operating in the area.
In a separate incident one IDF officer was lightly wounded from an anti-tank missile launched against an IDF force in southern Gaza.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report
