IDF Chief Gantz: Attacks will not go unanswered
After Palestinian sniper seriously wounds IDF soldier, top Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz says IDF will respond 'appropriately and with force.'
IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz said in response to a cross border shooting with Gaza terrorists in which an IDF soldier was seriously wounded that the armed forces had "no intention to allow events such as this to occur unanswered."
Gantz, who spoke at the Calcalist Conference, said that the IDF "responded appropriately and we will act in an appropriate and powerful manner as any incident demands."
Gantz added that "there is a possibility that events will deteriorate and develop into a significant incident. There is a strong possibility of a connection between fronts – that an incident in the north will influence an incident in the south."
According to the IDF, a Palestinian sniper opened fire on an IDF patrol vehicle near the Kisufim area in the southern Gaza Strip. The IDF then returned artillery and aerial fire, targeting the sources of the initial fire near Khirbet Hazaa as well as Hamas positions.
A Palestinian report said the IDF fired tank shells into in the southern strip. Hamas sources reported that the head of the local reconnaissance unit in the southern Gaza Strip was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the IDF, while three others were said to be wounded. Hamas sources named the dead man as Tayseer Asmairi.
Hamas said that "Israel is playing with fire and bears full responsibility for the repercussions. It is the Palestinian people's right to defend itself."
Palestinian sources told Ynet that Hamas has begun clearing its outposts and sending its commanders into hiding, fearing retaliatory IDF targeted killings.
Initial evidence seemed to indicate Hamas was behind the shooting, a sharp change in policy by the terror group, which, according to the Israeli defense establishment, has been working to crackdown on rogue militant factions, who have already fired into Israel on a number of occasions since the summer conflict ended.
The IDF ordered farmers in the Eskhol Regional Council to cease all work next to the Gaza border fence.
