Palestinians throw pipe bomb at IDF soldiers
Less than 24 hours after a large explosive device was placed on the Gaza border fence, IDF force identifies three Palestinian suspects crawling near the fence, one of whom threw a pipe bomb at the troops, who responded with live rounds; no casualties reported; Palestinians release video footage showing several men breaking through the fence, setting it aflame.
A pipe bomb was thrown at a group of IDF soldiers overnight Thursday near the Gaza border, prompting the troops to respond with live fire on three Palestinians seen crawling along the security fence.
No soldiers were injured in the incident and it was not immediately clear whether any of the Palestinians suspectes were wounded as a result of the gunfire.
The incident is the latest offensive in a series of violent attacks along the Gaza border in the past few days, and comes one day after the IDF neutralized an explosive device located near the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip.
Video footage of the border fence in the northern Gaza Strip was released Thursday afternoon, showing several Palestinians breaking through and setting parts of it on fire.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that no attempted arson had been observed on an IDF post during the day.
Earlier on Thursday, IDF soldiers neutralized an explosive device located near the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip. According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, the terror squad that planted the bomb had "planned to injure the soldiers and disrupt the activity of the forces operating in the area.”
"The planting of the explosive device by the terrorist cell under the guise of a violent demonstration is further evidence that the Hamas terror group is working to maintain the conflict in the fence area and to injure IDF soldiers, while using residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields and as cover for terrorist activities," the statement said.
"The army is prepared to act against terrorism that seeks to harm its forces and defense infrastructure," it stressed.
The incident early Friday and the planting of the explosive device Thursday are a continuation of several violent incidents reported in the past few days along the Gaza border.
On Monday, hundreds of Palestinians gathered on the beach in the northern Gaza Strip where they reportedly set afloat on rafts dozens of burning tires, in an attempt to reach Israel’s maritime border. IDF forces were deployed and prevented any attack.
In addition, dozens of Palestinian boats tried to approach the border with Israel, prompting the navy forces to fire warning shots in their direction, which resulted in an immediate retreat by the Palestinians.
Gaza's Health Ministry says 10 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire along the territory's coast and a Palestinian cameraman in a "Press" vest was shot in the leg.
Israel's military said forces shot next to the vessels and at Palestinians on land who threw an explosive device and rolled burning tires at soldiers.
On Saturday, the Palestinians released footage allegedly showing 16-year-old Ahmad Abu Tayoor being shot to death by Israeli forces during violent border clashes.
The footage shows Abu Tayoor throwing rocks at the border fence and shouting at soldiers who were observing the incident from their position on the Israeli side of the border.
In response, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that “the incidents will be investigated by the relevant command levels. The cases regarding the two Palestinians who were allegedly killed will be transferred to the IDF's General Staff for further investigation.”
