Five people were injured this morning in two attempted terrorist infiltrations of Jewish communities in Gaza.
In the first incident, at approximately 5:30am, two IDF soldiers at the Yakinton outpost were lightly injured in a gun battle with an unspecified number of Arab terrorists near N’vei Dekalim in southern Gush Katif. Israeli helicopters and IDF soldiers took part in the battle, but the terrorists managed to flee and take refuge in the nearby Palestinian Authority city of Khan Yunis. It is believed that the gunmen were attempting to infiltrate N’vei Dekalim at a time when most residents were asleep in their homes.
Less than two hours later, a second alert was sounded in Gush Katif, this time due to a successful terrorist infiltration into the hothouse area of Bedolach. The Arab gunman, who is also assumed to have come from Khan Yunis, entered the area of the hothouses on the community outskirts and opened fire wildly at anyone he happened upon. Two foreign laborers from Thailand were injured in the initial attack, and an IDF soldier who responded to the gunfire was himself injured by the terrorist. During the ensuing gunfight with IDF troops, the Arab terrorist took refuge in one of the Bedolach hothouses. At about 10:00am, after a long stand-off and negotiation for his surrender failed to produce results, Israeli troops shot and killed the infiltrator.
The IDF soldier injured in Bedolach is listed in moderate condition, and the two foreign workers suffered from light to moderate injuries. All three of the wounded were evacuated to Soroka Hospital in Beersheva.
In the first incident, at approximately 5:30am, two IDF soldiers at the Yakinton outpost were lightly injured in a gun battle with an unspecified number of Arab terrorists near N’vei Dekalim in southern Gush Katif. Israeli helicopters and IDF soldiers took part in the battle, but the terrorists managed to flee and take refuge in the nearby Palestinian Authority city of Khan Yunis. It is believed that the gunmen were attempting to infiltrate N’vei Dekalim at a time when most residents were asleep in their homes.
Less than two hours later, a second alert was sounded in Gush Katif, this time due to a successful terrorist infiltration into the hothouse area of Bedolach. The Arab gunman, who is also assumed to have come from Khan Yunis, entered the area of the hothouses on the community outskirts and opened fire wildly at anyone he happened upon. Two foreign laborers from Thailand were injured in the initial attack, and an IDF soldier who responded to the gunfire was himself injured by the terrorist. During the ensuing gunfight with IDF troops, the Arab terrorist took refuge in one of the Bedolach hothouses. At about 10:00am, after a long stand-off and negotiation for his surrender failed to produce results, Israeli troops shot and killed the infiltrator.
The IDF soldier injured in Bedolach is listed in moderate condition, and the two foreign workers suffered from light to moderate injuries. All three of the wounded were evacuated to Soroka Hospital in Beersheva.