Soldiers near Gaza border
Soldiers near Gaza borderIDF news photo: Flash 90

On Saturday evening, Israeli soldiers patrolling the Gaza Strip border with Israel killed a man whom they believed was a security threat.

The troops located the man as he was digging into the ground on the Gazan side of the border fence, which drew suspicious attention from the soldiers who warned him to turn back. The man was carrying an unspecified item with him as he climbed over the fence.

Soldiers then fired warning shots, which the man ignored, and then shot him dead as he continued to dig.

An army spokeswoman did not reveal any further details regarding what the man was carrying. An Israeli military source said, however, that no weapons were found on him.

In the past, terrorists have planted bombs targeting IDF patrols in the area, as well as mounting ambush attacks or attempting to infiltrate the border to carry out attacks in nearby Israeli communities.

On occasion, Arab civilians have attempt to cross the border illegally into Israel for employment.