IDF kills 2 after infiltration scare
Two figures seen crossing border fence into Israel from Gaza Strip. Residents instructed to remain indoors. Earlier, Qassam rocket explodes in Hof Ashkelon Regional Council; none injured
Israel Defense Forces troops killed two Palestinian terrorists Tuesday morning after they attempted to infiltrate Israel near Nirim, a kibbutz in southern Israel.
The IDF said that the terrorists opened fire on a Givati and Armored force. The ensuing clash left both terrorist dead. No injuries were reported among the Israeli soldiers.
Security forces began canvassing the area and residents of four communities in Eshkol Regional Council were instructed to remain indoors Tuesday morning, due to a possible terrorist infiltration. Some of the roads in the area were also closed to traffic.
Southern Command Chief Major-General Yoav Galant and Gaza Division Commander Brigadier-General Eyal Eisenberg arrived at the scene for the initial debriefing.
Over night Monday, a Qassam rocket was fired at the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. The rocket damaged a greenhouse in the area.
During the night, an explosion was heard near the council. A Color Red siren was not activated.
Searches Tuesday morning revealed that a rocket had exploded in the community's greenhouse area. No one was injured, but one of the greenhouses sustained damage.
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Monday condemned the Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, in which nine activists were killed and dozens were injured. He urged the international community to intervene.
Meanwhile, Hamas security forces have boosted their presence along the border fence with Israel, in order to prevent rocket attacks by other organizations.
Saturday night, the Israel Defense Forces struck a smuggling tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip, in response to Qassam rockets fired at Israel the previous day. Israel holds Hamas responsible for all occurrences in the Gaza Strip.
Shmulik Hadad contributed to this report
