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A terror cell crossed the Gaza border into Israel on Saturday morning in the southern part of the strip and tried to sabotage security infrastructure on the Israeli side.
An IDF force identified the terrorists and opened fire at them, prompting them to flee back into Gaza.
"The Hamas terror organization is trying again and again to turn the border fence area into an area of violence and fighting both underground and above ground," the IDF said in a statement. "The IDF will not allow this and will continue to act to ensure the safety of the residents of the State of Israel."
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Clashes on Gaza border Friday
(צילום: דובר צה"ל)
On Friday, thousands of Palestinians rioted near the Gaza border fence in several hotspots. During the clashes, terrorists opened fire at an IDF force, hurled grenades, explosives and Molotov cocktails, threw stones and worked to sabotage the border fence and other security infrastructure in several spots along the frontier.
IDF forces acted in accordance with the rules of engagement to stop terror attempts and efforts the sabotage defense infrastructure.
Meanwhile, incendiary kites flown from the Gaza Strip into Israel set fires in several spots along the border. Four air tankers and 12 firefighting teams were called to battle a big blaze that broke out in the Karmia Nature Reserve. The Air Force is also aiding in efforts to stop the fire from spreading to the greenhouses of Netiv HaAsara.
A large conflagration also broke out in the Kibbutz Nir Am area because of an incendiary kite. The fire was burning close to the kibbutz and firefighting teams were calls to the scene to stop it from reaching the community.
Earlier, an incendiary kite started a brush fire near Kibbutz Kissufim.
During the clashes on Friday, a 21-year-old Palestinian volunteer medic, Razan Ashraf Najjar, was killed after being shot in the chest while running towards the fence, reportedly to treat wounded Palestinians. She is the second woman killed in the March of Return protests.
The Palestinians also reported over 100 were wounded in the clashes, 40 of them from live fire.
During the protests, an IDF vehicle came under gunfire. In addition, a suspect was spotted crossing the border fence in northern Gaza and putting down a grenade that went off as he was returning to the strip. There were no injuries among IDF soldiers.