Golani troops and IAF helicopters foiled an attempt by Hamas to kidnap a solder in a tunnel near Gaza City Sunday morning. The IDF refused to comment on the report.
The incident was said to have occurred after Golani troops entered a Hamas command center in a house on the eastern outskirts of Gaza City and discovered smuggling tunnels underneath. A clash broke out between the troops and Hamas terrorists, who began to drag away one soldier, according to Israeli and foreign media.
Helicopter cover and efforts by his comrades forced the terrorists to release the solider. The IDF refused to discuss the incident, saying it would not comment on "rumors," but its spokesmen on Sunday denied a Hamas claim to the media that it had kidnapped two soldiers. The denial was issued after Reuters published the report, and the source of the claim may have been the clash that was not reported until Monday morning.
Ground troops advanced deeper and slowly and carefully into Gaza. One soldier suffered moderate wounds and four others were lightly injured in heavy fighting with Hamas guerrilla fighters.
Five soldiers remained in serious condition in Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva on Monday morning. One of the wounded is Dvir Bar Chai, son of Southern Hevron Hills Regional Council leader Tzviki Bar Chai. Twenty-three soldiers suffered light to moderate wounds.
Twelve other soldiers are recovering from light injuries in Bellinson, Barzilai and Sheba hospitals, and one other soldier is recovering moderate wounds.
The Air Force struck 30 terrorist targets overnight, including a mosque and four Hamas terrorists' homes used for storing a large amount of weaponry, while southern Israel residents spent a quiet night. Gaza terrorists launched their first rocket of the day at 7:00 a.m. on Sderot. The missile exploded at a kibbutz outside of the town and caused no injuries or damage.
Two more Kassams hit the Eshkol region and also landed in open areas.