Cleared for publication: An IDF soldier sustained serious wounds, another was moderately hurt, and three more troops sustained light injuries in Gaza after an anti-tank rocket was fired at them.
The five Givati Brigade soldiers were treated at the scene and later taken to hospitals in Israel.
Earlier Saturday, two soldiers and two officers from the Paratroopers Brigade were seriously injured in exchanges of fire with Palestinian gunmen on the outskirts of Gaza City. The four were hurt by mortar shells fired at them during a patrol of the area.
The incident is being investigated by the Israel Defense Forces. Military officials said the circumstances the forces were likely hurt in a "friendly-fire incident".
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| 'Hamas to step up activities before truce' / Hanan Greenberg |
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Military officials believe declaration of ceasefire will prompt Palestinian gunmen to take advantage of last hours of fighting in order to fire more rockets, carry out terror attack or attempt to kidnap soldier |
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The exchanges of fire continued after the incident, and the injured soldiers' comrades managed to hit several gunmen. The wounded were evacuated to the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer and the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva.
The Paratroopers Brigade has been operating on the outskirts of Gaza City for several days now and battling with Palestinian gunmen.
The brigade's commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Avi Blot and several other fighters were injured
a few days ago after gunmen hurled grenades and opened fire at them. Several hours later, seven other brigade fighters were wounded by antitank missiles, one of them sustained serious injuries.
The Israel Air Force struck more than 50 different targets in Gaza on Friday night, including 15 tunnels ion the Philadelphi route, eight launching pads, bunkers and weapon storage warehouses.
During the operation, the forces fired with small arms on a mosque where gunmen opened fire at them. The mosque, which was apparently booby-trapped, exploded.
As the Israel Defense Forces continues to operate deep inside the Gaza Strip, the preparations for a possible ceasefire
continue. According to estimates, after learning that the fighting is about to end Hamas
will step up its attempts to carry out a terror attack and will increase the firing of rockets into Israel.
As the fighting continues, IDF officials realize that Hamas' main goal is to kidnap soldiers. Inquiries conducted so far have revealed that underground tunnels have been dug in dozens of cases, with gunmen hiding inside and trying to attract the soldiers.
Military officials estimated that ahead of the ceasefire, Hamas will act more intensely to capture one of the troops on the ground.
According to the estimates, the Hamas fighters will act on different levels if it turns out that the ceasefire is indeed around the corner: Firing long-range rockets at distant communities, attempting to hit vessels or aircraft and attempting to hurt the ground forces.
Hamas' representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, said
Saturday morning that his organization would not hold fire until its demands are met. "Don't suggest that we surrender because we haven't been defeated and won't be defeated," he said.
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