Ceasefire breached: 3 mortars land in western Negev
Military forces, emergency unit from Kibbutz Nahal Oz dispatched to security fence area following Hamas-Fatah clashes
Three mortar shells fired by Hamas gunmen in Gaza late Saturday landed in the western Negev, causing no injuries or damage. The IDF was concerned that the concentration of Fatah members attempting to flee the Strip near the security fence may lead to a Hamas rocket attack in the area.
Earlier Saturday, fire was opened at an IDF patrol operating in the area. The force fired back, and no injuries were reported amid the troops.
A total of nine mortar shells were fired by Hamas during the evening hours towards the Nahal Oz area, three of them landing in Israeli territory and the rest in the Gaza Strip. In doing so, Hamas was attempting to stop the flow of Palestinians into Israel.
Following the firing, the emergency unit at Kibbutz Nahal Oz was summoned to the area. Yoav Peled, security officer for the Shaar Hanegev regional council said that the incident did not require any further measures.
“There was no need to send the residents into their homes or into the sheltered areas, but we are following the developments in the (Gaza) Strip.”
The infighting between Hamas and members of the Hilles clan in Gaza City took place in very close proximity to the security fence and Kibbutz Nahal Oz, whose residents were able to hear the explosions and gunfire.
Shmulik Hadad contributed to this report
