Armed Palestinians on Thursday opened fire on IDF forces that were working on the security fence near Kibbutz Zikim, north of the Gaza Strip.
The force was positioned near the fence when suddenly shots and mortar shells were fired at them from the Gaza Strip. The force responded with fire, hitting several members of the terrorist cell. No injuries reported among the IDF forces, but a military vehicle sustained light damage.
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Accordingto reports, additional IDF forces were called to the scene and the exchange of fire lasted for over an hour. IDF officials estimated that the attack was not part of a kidnapping attempt.
- Military jeep, after the incident (Photo: Tsafrir Abayov)
Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip confirmed the incident near the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya. The sources claimed that the fire started after IDF soldiers entered the Strip, and that the force used artillery fire and IAF aircraft.
The incident came after two days of relative calm in the south, following a rocky weekend inwhich dozens of rockets were fired at Israeli towns.
The security situation in the southern sector escalated over the weekend, when Gaza militants fired dozens of Qassam and Grad rockets at Israel's southern communities. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the majority of the rockets.
The IAF struck several Gaza targets following the attack, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowedthat the IDF will not cease its operations in the Strip until the Gaza groups hold their fire.
Shmulik Hadad contributed to this report
First published: 13:12, 11.03.11