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Photo: Amir Cohen
IDF fires at Palestinian cell near Gaza border
Gaza vicinity residents report waking up to sounds of gunfire. Army confirms strike on militants spotted near security fence; Palestinians say three injured
IDF helicopters fired at several armed Palestinians spotted near the security fence in central Gaza Saturday morning.
According to Palestinian reports, three people were injured in the strike. The Palestinian further said that the IDF used both artillery and helicopter fire to target the men near Kissufim.
The IDF Spokesman's Unit confirmed the strike, adding it was looking into the Palestinian report of injuries. .
Earlier Saturday, residents of the security fence-adjacent communities in southern Israel reported hearing massive aircraft movement, as well as mortar and gunfire echoing at Gaza's direction. According to the residents, a military helicopter was seen firing at a target in Gaza.
"It sounded a lot like things did during Operation Cast Lead," Avi Yakar of Kibbutz Nirim told Ynet. "It looked like the IDF was in mid operation, and we were told that an apparently, a cell readying to fire rockets was detected and the IDF acted accordingly."
While residents at Nirim are not ruling out Palestinian retaliation to the military's action, Yakar said that "We feel mush safer than we did a year ago, since we now have secure rooms, so if we have to – we have someplace to go. We can already tell by the sound whether (a rocket) will fall on our side or the (Palestinian) side."
Irit Heffetz, also from Nirim, added that the residents received a text message from the kibbutz' security officer, telling them that the fire heard was IDF fire, "and that we had nothing to worry about.
"Personally, I think something must be done about this because this is a David and Goliath-like never-ending war. We're strong," she added, "but we’re tired of dealing with these wars."
Ali Waked contributed to this report
