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Click here to watch: Gaza Sniper Attack Seriously Wounds IDF Soldier
An IDF soldier was seriously wounded Wednesday after an IDF patrol convoy sustained sniper fire near the southern Gaza Strip around noon, prompting the army to return fire into Gaza, in the most serious escalation along the southern border since a violent 50-day summer conflict ended.
According to the IDF, the soldier was taken to receive medical care, and his family has been informed of his state. According to the IDF, a Gaza sniper opened fire on an IDF patrol 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 Hamas 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." Gaza 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. Despite a cease-fire declared in August following 50 days of war between Israel and Hamas, numerous incidents have broken the quiet in recent months.
Source: Ynet
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