IDF soldier gravely injured from sniper fire in Gaza

An IDF soldier was gravely injured by sniper fire on Sunday morning near the Kerem Shalom border crossing in southern Gaza. A bullet struck him in the shoulder and he was evacuated by helicopter to the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. 

The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, have claimed responsibility for the incident.

However, later on Sunday, Abu Mujhid, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, said the shooter was a senior member of his organization who was subsequently killed in clashes with the IDF.

Mujhid told Ynet that Abdul Salam Abu Suseen, a commander of the Brigades in eastern Rafah, was the sniper responsible for the attack. Suseen and two other gunmen were later killed by gunfire from IAF warplanes.

Operating in Gaza (Photo: Reuters)

IDF infantry and combat engineering troops entered southern Gaza early Sunday morning in an area between the Kerem Shalom border crossing and the city of Rafah. The forces encountered a number of armed militants during the operation. The Air Force, which was providing air support during the incursion, launched several attacks on hostile forces in the area.

"We're continuing to operate in different areas in the Strip according to our estimations of the situation," a military official told Ynet.

"The whole area near the security fence and outskirts of the cities and townships in the Strip just like areas from where Qassam (rockets) are fired – these are areas in which we will operate at all times in order to thwart planned attacks."

In recent weeks, besides aerial attacks, IDF troops have been entering Gaza on a daily basis. Senior political and military officials estimate that every day that goes by brings Israel closer to a broad military campaign against terrorist infrastructure and Qassam rocket manufacturing plants in the Palestinian enclave.