Multi-Attack In Netzarim Thwarted
Alert IDF soldiers prevented a major terrorist attack yesterday morning, the seventh day of Passover, against the Jewish Gaza town of Netzarim in Israel's southern Mediterranean coastal area. Two terrorists were killed in the early-morning battle, and another was wounded. No Israelis were harmed.
Major Shai, deputy commander of the Shimshon (Samson) Battalion, explained afterwards that the IDF had received intelligence warnings of an impending attack and dispatched soldiers to lie in ambush. While the residents of Netzarim were about to celebrate the last day of Passover (which ended in Israel on Monday night), the IDF force identified a terrorist approaching the town via the greenhouses - only minutes away from residential homes. The soldiers opened fire and killed the infiltrator.
At the same time on the other side of Netzarim, IDF soldiers spotted two armed Arabs and opened fire. The terrorists returned fire and threw grenades at the soldiers' position. In the ensuing exchanges of fire, both terrorists were injured and fled towards safe haven in nearby PLO-controlled Gaza. One of the infiltrators died of his wounds, however, while the other abandoned his assault rifle and succeeded in escaping.
In searches of the area conducted in the area later in the morning, the body of one terrorist was found in a community greenhouse, armed with a Kalachnikov assault rifle, four hand grenades and five magazines, while another rifle and four magazines were found next to the town's western entrance.
The third line of attack came in the form of mortar shells fired by terrorist cells at the same time as the above attempted infiltrations. The IDF estimates that at least eight Arabs took part in the multiple onslaught: one lone terrorist attacking via the greenhouses, two trying to infiltrate from the other side of town, four terrorists shelling the Jewish town, and one commanding the entire operation.
Major Shai of the Shimshon Battalion said that the terrorists attempted to use the fog conditions to their advantage, but the IDF soldiers' quick response foiled the three-prong attack. Three different terrorist organizations collaborated in the well-planned offensive: Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Yasser Arafat's own Fatah.
Since the beginning of 2004, the Shimshon Brigade has killed over 20 terrorists detected trying to infiltrate Jewish towns or placing bombs.
Alert IDF soldiers prevented a major terrorist attack yesterday morning, the seventh day of Passover, against the Jewish Gaza town of Netzarim in Israel's southern Mediterranean coastal area. Two terrorists were killed in the early-morning battle, and another was wounded. No Israelis were harmed.
Major Shai, deputy commander of the Shimshon (Samson) Battalion, explained afterwards that the IDF had received intelligence warnings of an impending attack and dispatched soldiers to lie in ambush. While the residents of Netzarim were about to celebrate the last day of Passover (which ended in Israel on Monday night), the IDF force identified a terrorist approaching the town via the greenhouses - only minutes away from residential homes. The soldiers opened fire and killed the infiltrator.
At the same time on the other side of Netzarim, IDF soldiers spotted two armed Arabs and opened fire. The terrorists returned fire and threw grenades at the soldiers' position. In the ensuing exchanges of fire, both terrorists were injured and fled towards safe haven in nearby PLO-controlled Gaza. One of the infiltrators died of his wounds, however, while the other abandoned his assault rifle and succeeded in escaping.
In searches of the area conducted in the area later in the morning, the body of one terrorist was found in a community greenhouse, armed with a Kalachnikov assault rifle, four hand grenades and five magazines, while another rifle and four magazines were found next to the town's western entrance.
The third line of attack came in the form of mortar shells fired by terrorist cells at the same time as the above attempted infiltrations. The IDF estimates that at least eight Arabs took part in the multiple onslaught: one lone terrorist attacking via the greenhouses, two trying to infiltrate from the other side of town, four terrorists shelling the Jewish town, and one commanding the entire operation.
Major Shai of the Shimshon Battalion said that the terrorists attempted to use the fog conditions to their advantage, but the IDF soldiers' quick response foiled the three-prong attack. Three different terrorist organizations collaborated in the well-planned offensive: Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Yasser Arafat's own Fatah.
Since the beginning of 2004, the Shimshon Brigade has killed over 20 terrorists detected trying to infiltrate Jewish towns or placing bombs.