For the second time in two days soldiers opened fire on armed militants, defence forces say

This article is more than 4 weeks old

This article is more than 4 weeks old

Israeli soldiers fired at a Palestinian militant on the Gaza border on Sunday, the military said, and a Palestinian medic said the man was killed.

It was the second such incident since Saturday when Israeli troops shot dead four heavily armed Palestinians who attempted to cross the volatile border.

“IDF [Israel Defense Forces] troops spotted an armed terrorist approaching the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip. The terrorist opened fire towards the troops,” the military said of the second incident.

The soldiers returned fire and an Israeli tank fired at a post belonging to Hamas, the Islamist armed group that rules Gaza.

The IDF said no Israelis were hurt.

In a post on Twitter on Saturday, the IDF said the four men were armed with assault rifles, anti-tank missiles and hand grenades, one of which was hurled at their troops. “Once one of the terrorists crossed into Israel, our troops opened fire.”

Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) These are the weapons possessed by the terrorists who attempted to infiltrate into Israel from Gaza last night.



Their (unfulfilled) objective: murdering Israelis. pic.twitter.com/sQbMPK59sX

There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials in Gaza or from militant groups in the territory.

Gaza is ruled by the Islamist group Hamas, which has fought three wars with Israel over the past decade. Israel pulled its troops and settlers from the territory in 2005 but keeps the enclave under a blockade, citing security concerns. Tensions along the border are high with frequent fatalities. </s> JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli forces opened fire on four Palestinian militants near the Gaza border fence on Saturday, killing the men, the Israeli military said.

The men were armed with assault rifles, anti-tank missiles and hand grenades, one of which was hurled at the Israeli troops, the military said on Twitter. “The soldiers opened fire after one of the terrorists crossed the border and killed them.”

There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials in Gaza or from militant groups in the territory.

Gaza is ruled by the Islamist group Hamas, which has fought three wars with Israel over the past decade. Israel pulled its troops and settlers from the territory in 2005 but keeps the enclave under a blockade, citing security concerns. Tensions along the border are high with frequent fatalities. </s> Israeli soldiers shot dead four Palestinian militants on Saturday on the border to the Gaza Strip after one of the men attacked them with a hand grenade, the Israeli military said.

The military said on Twitter that the men were armed with assault rifles, anti-tank missiles and hand grenades.

There has been a recent escalation in clashes between militants from Gaza, ruled by the Islamist group Hamas, and the Israeli army, which is keeping the enclave under a blockade that Israel says is prompted by security concerns.

Last week, three soldiers were injured after a Palestinian who was seeking to avenge his brother's death at the hands of Israeli forces entered Israel from Gaza and opened fire. The man was killed in the ensuing gunbattle.

Earlier this week, a 19-year-old Israeli soldier and student was stabbed to death in a settlement in the West Bank. The suspect in that attack is still at large.

The violence comes ahead of Israeli general elections on September 17, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under pressure to show a firm hand in dealing with Palestinian militants.

Every evening, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here. </s> Four alleged Palestinian terrorists were killed by Israeli forces near the Gaza border fence, the military announced on Saturday.

Israel Defense Forces said the men were armed with grenades and assault rifles and that they had crossed the border from Gaza.

“We just identified a number of terrorists from Gaza approaching Israel, armed with AK-47 assault rifles, RPG grenade launchers & grenades—one of which was thrown,” the force posted on its official Twitter account.

“Once one of the terrorists crossed into Israel, our troops opened fire,” the statement added.

In a second post, the IDF published photographs of guns, ammunition and grenades laid on the ground and said: "These are the weapons possessed by the terrorists who attempted to infiltrate into Israel from Gaza last night."

It added that their objective was "murdering Israelis".

The four dead were Abdulah al-Hamayda, Abdulah al-Ghamri, Abdulah al-Masri and Ahmad al-Odeini, security sources inside the Gaza Strip told Efe.

They were all in their early 20s and members of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, the sources added.

No group has claimed responsibility for the alleged attempt and no official statement has been issued on the matter.

The Israeli military took the bodies of the four Palestinians and confiscated the weapons they were carrying, according to Palestinian sources.

A similar incident that took place 10 days ago left three Israeli soldiers wounded after Hamas militia managed to enter Israel and opened fire at before being shot dead.

The unrest between Gaza and Israel has escalated since Gaza border protests rallies began in March 2018.

Hundreds and sometimes thousands of Palestinians have been taking to the streets every week in front of the fence to call for refugees’ right to return and lifting the blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza since 2007, when Hamas took charge of the Strip.

Since then, many incidents have taken place in the area, which left at least 307 Palestinians dead as they were shot by Israeli forces during protests and incidents. EFE-EPA </s> Israeli army has said its troops shot dead four Palestinians near the Gaza boundary area with Israel on Saturday morning.

The four men were heavily armed with assault rifles, anti-tank missiles and hand grenades, one of which was hurled at the Israeli troops, the military said in a statement.

The Israeli army opened fire when one of the men crossed into Israel, it said. No casualties were reported in Israeli ranks.

There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials in Gaza or armed groups in the territory.

The shootings on Saturday came as Muslim Palestinians prepare to mark Eid al-Adha, the feast of the sacrifice.

Gaza is ruled by Hamas, which has fought three wars with Israel over the past decade. Israel pulled its troops and settlers from the territory in 2005, but keeps the enclave under a blockade, citing security reasons.

Hamas has staged weekly protests along the line dividing Gaza and Israel since March 2018 against the strip's dire conditions following 12 years of the Israeli-Egyptian blockade.

At least 301 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza or the boundary area since then, the majority during demonstrations. Seven Israelis have also been killed.

On August 1, a Palestinian was killed and three Israeli soldiers wounded in an exchange of fire in an area of the southern Gaza Strip.

The intensity of protests have decreased since Israel and Hamas reached an informal ceasefire in May, following the worst round of fighting since a 2014 war between them.

Under the truce - brokered by the United Nations and Egypt - Israel agreed to take steps to ease aspects of its blockade on Gaza but Palestinians have accused it of slowing the deal, adding that it has not taken enough measure to ease the crippling economic conditions in the coastal enclave.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is widely seen as wanting to avoid a major flare-up in the Palestinian territories as he gears up for a snap general election on September 17 - the country's second this year.

However, he is likely to face political pressure to act firmly against any significant attack.



GET THE NEWS at your fingertips and download the News24 app for Android here now. Get it for your iPhone here.

KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE newsletter. </s> Israeli forces shot dead four Palestinians near a security fence at the Gaza Strip border, according to the army on Saturday.

In a statement, the army said the four men were allegedly armed with AK-47 assault rifles, hand grenades and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

The army said the remains of the four men are in Israeli custody.

There was no comment from Palestinian authorities in Gaza on the Israeli claim.

Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, reached an informal cease-fire in May after the worst bout of violence since 2014.

Palestinians have been staging weekly protests near Gaza border to demand an end to a 12-year Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has shattered the coastal enclave's economy and deprived its two million inhabitants of many basic amenities.

Since the Gaza rallies began last year, nearly 270 protesters have been martyred -- and thousands more wounded -- by Israeli troops deployed near the buffer zone. </s> JERUSALEM: The Israeli army said its troops shot dead four heavily armed Palestinians on the Gaza border early on Saturday (Aug 10), alleging one of them had managed to cross and throw a grenade at soldiers.

Separately, security forces said they had arrested two Palestinians suspected of killing an off-duty Israeli soldier in the occupied West Bank earlier this week.

There have been frequent clashes along the Gaza border since the Palestinians began organising regular mass protests there in March 2018.

But Saturday's exchange was unusual due to the weaponry the Israeli army said was involved on the Palestinian side.

"The terrorists were equipped with AK-47 assault rifles, RPG grenade launchers and hand grenades," an army statement said.

A spokeswoman said "the army opened fire after one of the terrorists scaled the barrier and hurled a grenade at the soldiers."

Army spokesman Jonathan Conricus said the four Palestinians were all wearing "uniforms" - without elaborating - and were equipped with food and a medical kit as well as the rifles.

A Hamas statement condemned Israel's killing of the four Palestinians as a "crime".

But the Islamist rulers of the Palestinian enclave made no claim of responsibility and did not say if the four were members of its armed wing.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his government's stance that Hamas is responsible for all attacks emanating from Gaza.

"Israel will continue to act to thwart infiltrations of its territory and attacks on our citizens," he said in a statement.

Palestinian demonstrations at the border demanding the lifting of Israel's more than decade-old blockade have often led to violence and a deadly response from the Israeli army.

At least 301 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza or the border area since March 2018, the majority during the demonstrations.

Seven Israelis have also been killed.

The protests have declined in intensity in recent months following a UN and Egypt-brokered truce under which Israel agreed to ease aspects of its blockade in return for calm.

Sporadic violence has continued but the Israeli army has said most of it has consisted of lone-wolf attacks.

Netanyahu is widely seen as wanting to avoid a major flare-up in the Palestinian territories as Israel prepares for a snap general election on September 17, its second polls this year.

But he is likely to face political pressure to act firmly against any significant attack.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008.

On August 1, a Palestinian seeking to avenge his brother's death by Israeli fire entered Israel from Gaza armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle and hand grenades. He was killed and three Israeli soldiers wounded, the army said.

The latest killings on the Gaza border came days after off-duty soldier Dvir Sorek was found dead "with stabbing marks" near the West Bank settlement of Migdal Oz.

Israel's domestic intelligence agency said Saturday that two Palestinians suspected of killing him had been arrested.

"After an intensive intelligence operation by security services, the Israeli police and army arrested suspects" in his murder, Shin Bet said in a statement.

The killing of the 19-year-old, between Bethlehem and the flashpoint city of Hebron, further hiked Israeli-Palestinian tensions ahead of the elections.

The Israeli army said separately that some 100 "rioters" had attacked security forces with rocks as they apprehended "the terrorist squad" suspected of killing him.

"In recent years our forces have laid hands on all of the Palestinian murderers who have attacked Israelis and today they have done so again," he said. </s> Israeli occupation forces have shot dead at least four Palestinians near the fence separating the besieged Gaza Strip from the occupied territories.

Local news sources said the Palestinians lost their lives in clashes with the Israeli army east of the Gaza city of Deir al-Balah early on Saturday.

The Israeli military claimed that the Palestinian victims had been “armed with AK-47 assault rifles, RPG grenade launchers & grenades—one of which was thrown.”

One of the Palestinian men, it added, had crossed the Gaza fence and fired at Israeli troops.

It also noted that Israeli lookout troops had already spotted the Palestinians approaching the Gaza fence and alerted soldiers stationed nearby.

Israeli troops regularly opens fatal fire on Palestinians, accusing them of seeking to attack them.

Human rights groups have repeatedly slammed the Israel for its shoot-to-kill policy.

Gaza has been under a crippling land, air and sea blockade by Israel since 2007 and witnessed three wars since 2008.

The coastal enclave has also witnessed deadly tensions since March 30, 2018 which marked the start of the Great March of Return protests, with participants demanding the right to return for the Palestinians driven out of their homeland.

Israel carries out regular attacks on Gaza under the pretext of hitting positions belonging to the Hamas resistance movement

Also on Friday, Israeli aircraft targeted an alleged Hamas outpost near near Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. </s> JERUSALEM - The Israeli army said its troops fatally shot four heavily armed Palestinians on the Gaza border early Saturday, alleging one of them had crossed and thrown a grenade at soldiers. 

 

 Separately, security forces said they had arrested two Palestinians suspected of killing an off-duty Israeli soldier in the occupied West Bank earlier this week. 

 

 There have been frequent clashes along the Gaza border since the Palestinians began organizing regular mass protests there in March 2018. But Saturday's exchange was unusual because of the weaponry the Israeli army said was involved on the Palestinian side. 

 

 "The terrorists were equipped with AK-47 assault rifles, RPG grenade launchers and hand grenades," an army statement said. 

 

 A spokeswoman said the army “opened fire after one of the terrorists scaled the barrier and hurled a grenade at the soldiers." 

 

 No Israeli casualties were reported.

'Uniforms'

 

 Army spokesman Jonathan Conricus said the four Palestinians were all wearing "uniforms" — without elaborating — and were equipped with food and a medical kit as well as the rifles. 

 

 A Hamas statement condemned Israel's killing of the four Palestinians as a "crime." 

 

 But the Islamist rulers of the Palestinian enclave made no claim of responsibility and did not say whether the four were members of its armed wing. 



Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his government's stance that Hamas is responsible for all attacks emanating from Gaza. 

 

 "Israel will continue to act to thwart infiltrations of its territory and attacks on our citizens," he said in a statement.

Blockade spurs protests

 

 Palestinian demonstrations at the border demanding the lifting of Israel's blockade, in effect for more than a decade, have often led to violence and a deadly response from the Israeli army. 

 

 At least 301 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza or the border area since March 2018, the majority during the demonstrations. 

 

 Seven Israelis have also been killed. 

 

 The protests have declined in intensity in recent months following a truce brokered by the United Nations and Egypt, under which Israel agreed to ease aspects of its blockade in return for calm. 

 

 Sporadic violence has continued but the Israeli army has said most of it consisted of lone-wolf attacks. 

 

 Netanyahu is widely seen as wanting to avoid a major flare-up in the Palestinian territories as Israel prepares for a snap general election on Sept. 17, its second election this year. 

 

 But he is likely to face political pressure to act firmly against any significant attack. 

 

 Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008. 

 

 On Aug. 1, a Palestinian seeking to avenge his brother's death by Israeli fire entered Israel from Gaza armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle and hand grenades. He was killed and three Israeli soldiers wounded, the army said.

Soldier slain

 

 The latest killings on the Gaza border came days after off-duty soldier Dvir Sorek was found dead "with stabbing marks" near the West Bank settlement of Migdal Oz. 

 

 Israel's domestic intelligence agency said Saturday that two Palestinians suspected of killing him had been arrested. 

 

 "After an intensive intelligence operation by security services, the Israeli police and army arrested suspects" in his slaying, Shin Bet said in a statement. 

 

 The killing of the 19-year-old, between Bethlehem and the flashpoint city of Hebron, further hiked Israeli-Palestinian tensions ahead of the elections. 

 

 The Israeli army said separately that 100 "rioters" had attacked security forces with rocks as they apprehended "the terrorist squad" suspected of killing him. 

 

 Netanyahu commended the swift arrests. "In recent years our forces have laid hands on all of the Palestinian murderers who have attacked Israelis, and today they have done so again," he said.
Israeli forces shoot dead four Palestinian militants near the border with Gaza, the Israeli military say. Israel Defense Forces say the men were armed with assault rifles, anti-tank missiles and hand grenades.