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| Israeli soldier killed by Palestinian gunman on Gaza border | Israeli soldier killed by Palestinian gunman on Gaza border |
| (4 months later) | |
| An Israeli soldier has been killed in an exchange of fire with a Palestinian gunman who broke through the border from Gaza early on Friday morning. The Palestinian was also killed. | An Israeli soldier has been killed in an exchange of fire with a Palestinian gunman who broke through the border from Gaza early on Friday morning. The Palestinian was also killed. |
| Shortly afterwards, Israeli warplanes were reported to be in the skies over Khan Younis, a city in the south of Gaza. Palestinian sources said shells had been fired at open areas near the city. Israeli military sources said that its forces were in action in the air and on the ground. According to unconfirmed reports, a vehicle was hit and at least three militants killed. | Shortly afterwards, Israeli warplanes were reported to be in the skies over Khan Younis, a city in the south of Gaza. Palestinian sources said shells had been fired at open areas near the city. Israeli military sources said that its forces were in action in the air and on the ground. According to unconfirmed reports, a vehicle was hit and at least three militants killed. |
| There were also reports of a number of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel. | There were also reports of a number of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel. |
| A statement from the Israeli Defence Forces said: "An IDF soldier from the Golani Brigade was killed earlier this morning. A terrorist who was identified infiltrating Israel from the southern Gaza Strip opened fire at IDF soldiers, who responded with fire. During the exchange of fire, the terrorist was killed, thus preventing a terror attack on Israeli civilians." | A statement from the Israeli Defence Forces said: "An IDF soldier from the Golani Brigade was killed earlier this morning. A terrorist who was identified infiltrating Israel from the southern Gaza Strip opened fire at IDF soldiers, who responded with fire. During the exchange of fire, the terrorist was killed, thus preventing a terror attack on Israeli civilians." |
| Earlier, Avital Leibovich, spokeswoman for the IDF, pinned the blame on Hamas. "Hamas is responsible for this infiltration as well as any other terrorist activity from Gaza directed at Israel," she tweeted. However, the gunman is more likely to have been a member of Islamic Jihad or the Popular Resistance Committees than Hamas, which largely adheres to a ceasefire. | Earlier, Avital Leibovich, spokeswoman for the IDF, pinned the blame on Hamas. "Hamas is responsible for this infiltration as well as any other terrorist activity from Gaza directed at Israel," she tweeted. However, the gunman is more likely to have been a member of Islamic Jihad or the Popular Resistance Committees than Hamas, which largely adheres to a ceasefire. |
| The incident may have been a bid to kidnap an Israeli soldier, although such an attempt would be expected to involve more than one Palestinian militant. | The incident may have been a bid to kidnap an Israeli soldier, although such an attempt would be expected to involve more than one Palestinian militant. |
| Militant groups in Gaza have openly stated their intention to try to kidnap an Israeli to use as a fresh bargaining chip to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was released last October after more than five years in captivity in Gaza in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. | Militant groups in Gaza have openly stated their intention to try to kidnap an Israeli to use as a fresh bargaining chip to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was released last October after more than five years in captivity in Gaza in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. |
| "This is our strategy. It's the only way to force Israel to release prisoners," Abu Tarek Mudalel, an Islamic Jihad leader, told the Guardian earlier this week. | "This is our strategy. It's the only way to force Israel to release prisoners," Abu Tarek Mudalel, an Islamic Jihad leader, told the Guardian earlier this week. |
| According to Israel media reports, soldiers alerted to a breach in the fence along Gaza's border rushed to the scene where a gun fight broke out. In a separate incident last week, two Israeli soldiers were wounded by gunfire along the border. | According to Israel media reports, soldiers alerted to a breach in the fence along Gaza's border rushed to the scene where a gun fight broke out. In a separate incident last week, two Israeli soldiers were wounded by gunfire along the border. |
| Friday's incident followed the return of the remains of 91 Palestinians, including many suicide bombers, which had been held by Israel to the West Bank and Gaza. Most of the remains were handed over to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah on Thursday, where the coffins were draped in Palestinian flags and a ceremony was held at the presidential headquarters, the Muqata. Twelve bodies were returned to Gaza. | Friday's incident followed the return of the remains of 91 Palestinians, including many suicide bombers, which had been held by Israel to the West Bank and Gaza. Most of the remains were handed over to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah on Thursday, where the coffins were draped in Palestinian flags and a ceremony was held at the presidential headquarters, the Muqata. Twelve bodies were returned to Gaza. |
| Israeli officials described the move as a confidence-building measure to help to get the peace process back on track. The bodies had been interred in an Israeli military cemetery for "enemy combatants" in the West Bank. | Israeli officials described the move as a confidence-building measure to help to get the peace process back on track. The bodies had been interred in an Israeli military cemetery for "enemy combatants" in the West Bank. |
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