About two dozen terrorists infiltrated the southern Israeli border with Gaza on Yom Kippur, the IDF Spokesperson said Wednesday night.
Under cover of violence perpetrated by hundreds of Gazans attacking Israeli soldiers with Molotov cocktails, a hand grenade and an improvised explosive device (IED), the infiltrators penetrated the security fence at several locations during the day.
The infiltrators were split into two groups: a small group of four terrorists carried a gas tank and materials for an Molotov cocktail which were later found near the security fence. The second group of 20 infiltrators sprayed paint on an IDF position near the border. Both groups returned quickly to Gaza after having carried out their “missions.”
Two infiltrators were arrested in southern Gaza; both were handed over to security personnel for interrogation.
Molotov cocktails and rocks were hurled at IDF soldiers who were stationed along the fence to prevent terrorists from breaching the border and attacking Israeli civilians who live nearby.
IDF troops employed standard riot control measures in response to the violence. In cases where it was deemed necessary for defense in life-threatening situations or to protect security infrastructure, live fire was used as well.
The official Palestinian Authority WAFA news agency reported that eight of the attackers were wounded in the melee: six were injured in central Gaza and two were wounded in southern Gaza. All are reported in fair condition.
No IDF soldiers were wounded and no damage was reported to military positions during the violence.