The dead soldier, a bomb sapper, was killed during the course of a heavy exchange of fire Tuesday morning. He was shot in the head by terrorists from within a building. Critically wounded, he was taken to a hospital, where he died of his wounds.
His family has been informed of his death, enabling the publicizing of his death, but his name will not be released until all immediate relatives are notified.
The IDF has been operating in the central Gaza area over the last few days, uncovering terror infrastructures such as tunnels. Last night, the Israel Air Force bombed a structure used for the storage of arms and munitions.
The IDF's anti-terror activities take on greater significance in light of recent pro-terror statements by Hamas Authority leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Seeking to allay Hamas fears that the Hamas-Fatah unity government being formed will change Hamas' goals to destroy Israel, Haniyeh said last night, "The outlines of any political agenda in the coming period will not harm the legitimacy of the resistance against the Israeli occupation."
Haniyeh said that the purpose of the unity government is not negotiations with Israel, and that Hamas will in any event not take part in such talks.
Israeli officials say Israel will continue not to recognize the Hamas government unless it fulfills three conditions: It must recognize Israel, ratify previous agreements made with Israel, and swear off terrorism.
Possibly in response, terrorism continued yesterday and today unabated, including the following incidents:
Two Palestinian terrorists were seen placing a bomb in southern Gaza last night, and IDF forces opened fire... Arabs threw four firebombs at an Israeli car near N'vei Tzuf, northwest of Ramallah; no one was hurt... IDF forces arrested six wanted terrorists in Judea and Samaria last night... Three Israelis in a truck mistakenly entered Kalandia, north of Jerusalem, last night, and found themselves attacked by a rock-throwing Arab mob. The three, who were lightly hurt, made their way to an IDF checkpoint, from where they were evacuated for medical treatment.
His family has been informed of his death, enabling the publicizing of his death, but his name will not be released until all immediate relatives are notified.
The IDF has been operating in the central Gaza area over the last few days, uncovering terror infrastructures such as tunnels. Last night, the Israel Air Force bombed a structure used for the storage of arms and munitions.
The IDF's anti-terror activities take on greater significance in light of recent pro-terror statements by Hamas Authority leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Seeking to allay Hamas fears that the Hamas-Fatah unity government being formed will change Hamas' goals to destroy Israel, Haniyeh said last night, "The outlines of any political agenda in the coming period will not harm the legitimacy of the resistance against the Israeli occupation."
Haniyeh said that the purpose of the unity government is not negotiations with Israel, and that Hamas will in any event not take part in such talks.
Israeli officials say Israel will continue not to recognize the Hamas government unless it fulfills three conditions: It must recognize Israel, ratify previous agreements made with Israel, and swear off terrorism.
Possibly in response, terrorism continued yesterday and today unabated, including the following incidents:
Two Palestinian terrorists were seen placing a bomb in southern Gaza last night, and IDF forces opened fire... Arabs threw four firebombs at an Israeli car near N'vei Tzuf, northwest of Ramallah; no one was hurt... IDF forces arrested six wanted terrorists in Judea and Samaria last night... Three Israelis in a truck mistakenly entered Kalandia, north of Jerusalem, last night, and found themselves attacked by a rock-throwing Arab mob. The three, who were lightly hurt, made their way to an IDF checkpoint, from where they were evacuated for medical treatment.