An initial investigation Sunday revealed that an IDF soldier who was moderately wounded while battling Gaza terrorists was hurt by friendly fire. It was initially thought that he was shot by the terrorists, who fired on troops after being identified as they tried to break through the Gaza security barrier.
The wounded soldier underwent a successful operation, and his condition is stable.
The investigation was led by senior IDF commanders Major-General Tal Russo, head of the Southern Command, and Brigadier-General Yossi Bachar, the Gaza Division Commander. A more thorough investigation will be carried out over the course of the upcoming weeks.
Soldiers conducted a shootout with the terrorist cell Sunday morning. Commanders reported that visibility was poor due to the sandstorm that hit southern Israel on Sunday, and that the nature of the terrain also hampered the soldiers' ability to see their targets.
Terrorism has been on the rise in Gaza in recent months after almost two years of relative quiet following the Cast Lead counterterror operation, in which hundreds of Hamas terrorists were killed and a large part of the terror group's weapons were destroyed. IDF commanders have said that the IDF may have to step up its counter-terror activity in Gaza.