Muhammad Wadi, 18, was killed by IDF fire Friday morning when soldiers opened fire on a group of youngsters suspected of attempting to plant an explosive device along the security fence separating Israel from Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Hamas claimed that the youths were bird hunting and that the Palestinian who was killed did not belong to any terrorist organization.
Another Palestinian sustained moderate injuries during the incident, which took place south of Gaza City, adjacent to Kibbutz Be'eri. The wounded Palestinian was evacuated to Ashkelon's Barzilai Medical Center, while three others were detained and taken in for questioning.
Injured Palestinian evacuated (Photo: Eliram Moshe)
The Israeli army said Nahal Brigade soldiers stationed in the area opened fire at the suspects.
Since the end of the December-January war between Israel and Hamas, the Gaza area has remained relatively calm, although border incidents are not uncommon. During this time, Palestinians in north Gaza have launched sporadic rocket attacks on Israel's southern region.
Last Friday an IDF tank opened fire on a Palestinian suspected of planting a bomb along the Gaza border fence, near Kibbutz Nahal Oz. sources in Gaza said the tank fire lightly wounded two Palestinians.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report
First published: 11:56, 11.13.9