Update: IDF Soldier Wounded in Gun Battle with Hamas

A Hamas terrorist sniper seriously wounded a Bedouin combat soldier on patrol at the Gaza security fence Wednesday morning.

The family of the soldier has been notified but his name has not been released. He was serious wounded and was evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva.

In response, IDF air and ground forces targeted Hamas positions in the immediate vicinity of the attack with machine gun and artillery fire.

Hamas confirmed that the commander of its lookout post was killed.

The army has ordered Israeli farmers to stop working and to evacuate the area until further notice.

The battle was the most serious since the end of the Operation Protective Edge counter-terrorist war against the Hamas terrorist infrastructure last summer.

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, IDF Spokesman said, "This attack, the second of this week, is a lethal violation of the relative quiet along the Gaza border and is a blatant breach of Israel's sovereignty. The IDF will continue to use all necessary means in order to maintain the safety of the citizens of southern Israel and will not hesitate to respond to any attempt to harm IDF soldiers."

Hamas has tested several rockets the past several weeks. O landed in Israel last week, prompting an immediate strike on a Hamas weapons manufacturing building built with cement that Israel allowed to be shipped into Gaza on condition that it would be used for civilian purposes.