An IDF officer and two soldiers were wounded on Wednesday night after a terrorist from the Gaza Strip breached the security fence into Israel and fired at the forces. The troops responded by shooting and killing the terrorist.
The officer, from the Golani Brigade, sustained moderate injuries, and the other troops were lightly injured. They were evacuated by helicopter to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva.
Responding to the severe incident, the IDF targeted a Hamas military post near the Gaza border.
IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis stated that the terrorist belonged to the Hamas terror organization and was wearing a uniform during the attack. He added that the terrorist was carrying several hand grenades and used one of them before being killed by IDF fire.
An initial inquiry into one of the most severe incidents on the security fence in recent years carried out by the IDF indicates that the Hamas terrorist acted on his own initiative.
Gazan sources identified the terrorist as Hanny Abu Saleh, a member of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, as well as a member of Hamas’ police. His brother Fadi was killed in a clash with Israeli forces as well.
The incident occurred just hours after the IDF completed a large-scale exercise to improve its readiness in combating threats posed by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, the largest such drill since Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014.
“We have strengthened our preparedness for a possible campaign in Gaza…which could break out any day,” stated IDF Chief of Staff LTG Aviv Kohavi.