Terrorists opened fire on workers riding a jeep to work at the construction site of the new fence along the Israeli-Egyptian border, near Kadesh Barnea, on Monday around 6 AM. The jeep tumbled over into a ditch and an employee of the Defense Ministrywas killed.
A force from the IDF Golani Brigade responded quickly, shooting at the terrorists. One terrorist was killed instantly, and another died as the explosives he was carrying on his person blew up.
IDF spokesman Brigadier General Yoav (Poly) Mordechai said earlier today, Monday, that “at this point IDF forces are searching the area to rule out the presence of additional terrorists in Israel. The entire area has been closed off, and will probably remain closed to traffic along axis road 12, until the entire event is contained. Currently, the communities are closed off, without an exception. There is a small number of casualties. However, the incident is not yet over.”
Lieutenant Col. Avital Leibovitch told reporters that as of noon, Monday, the roads near Gaza have been re-opened, as security forces have concluded that the third terrorist has crossed the border back to Egypt.
Leibovitch said that the terrorist squad appeared well stocked and operated in two groups, one on either side of the border.
Recently there have been increased alerts regarding penetrations into Israel from the Gaza Strip or the Sinai. These alerts come against the background of Egypt’s central government’s loss of control in the Sinai, resulting in the area being run by Bedouin smugglers and roaming terrorist gangs.
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