IDF tank near Gaza (Archives)
Photo: Tsafrir Abayov
Palestinians: 1 dead, 4 injured from IDF fire in Gaza
Sources in Gaza say Israeli force opened fire on group of people near Beit Lahiya, adding that it's unclear whether casualties farmers or gunmen
Palestinian sources in Gaza reported at around noon Monday that an IDF force opened fire on a group of people near the town of Beit Lahiya, killing one person and injuring four others.
According to the sources, it remains unclear whether the casualties are farmers or gunmen.
About a week-and-a-half ago three Palestinian gunmen were injured from IDF fire near the Israel-Gaza border after soldiers manning an IDF observation post spotted four gunmen several hundred meters from the security fence that separates Israel from the Hamas-ruled territory, nears Kibbutz Kissufin the western Negev region.
During the incident the IDF employed the Roeh-Yoreh (Sees-Fires) system, which enables camera operators located in rear-located command, control communications, computers and intelligence centers to engage border infiltrators using a remote-controlled weapon station, thus minimizing the risk to soldiers.
The concept is considered revolutionary by the IDF, as up to now the surveillance units were only allowed to detect infiltrators and direct air and ground forces towards them, but not engage them.
IDF forces launched mortars at the gunmen, and a military chopper also opened fire.
A few days prior to the incident a Golani Brigade soldier was lightly wounded when an explosive device went off near the border fence as an IDF patrol passed. The bomb was apparently detonated by remote-control.
Soldiers later discovered another bomb, which was detonated by sappers.
