Palestinians opened fire from small-arms on Monday afternoon at Defense Ministry laborers engaged in infrastructure work near the border fence in the Kibbutz Nahal Oz area. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
The Israel Defense Forces responded to the incident by firing tank shells towards the gunmen, causing panic among local residents, who were convinced that mortar shells had been fired at them.
This is another incident in a series of events, which have led to a tense holiday in the Western Negev. At around midnight Sunday, Israel Air Force planes attacked three weapon smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza. The IDF said the strike was carried out in response to the firing of Qassam rockets at Israel on Saturday night.
Two Palestinians were killed Sunday afternoon and four others were injured by IDF fire north of the town of Beit Lahiya. The army reported that several people were spotted approaching the fence near Kibbutz Kfar Aza in order to plant an explosive device, and that mortars were fired at them after they had failed to obey warning shots.