4 IDF soldiers wounded, 2 seriously, by explosive device at Gaza border

In what may be most serious incident since the conclusion of Operation Protective Edge, Palestinian terrorists launched an IED targeting an IDF patrol at the Gaza border, injuring four soldiers. 

By: World Israel News Staff

An IDF tank struck an observation post in the southern Gaza Strip in response to the detonation of an explosive device along its border.

Four IDF soldiers were wounded – two seriously and two moderately – when the device exploded near their military jeep. They were evacuated by helicopter to Soroka hospital in Be’er Sheba.

No special instructions were given to southern residents in the aftermath.

According to Palestinian officials, the observation post targeted by the IDF belonged to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group. There were no casualties on the Palestinian side, they said.

Explosive devices at the Gaza border have been discovered on a number of occasions since the end of Israel’s war on Hamas, Operation Protective Edge, in the summer of 2014, but this incident is considered the most serious.

In March 2017, the IDF defused two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near the Gaza Strip’s northern border security fence. The IEDs were placed in an off-limits zone on the Palestinian side of the security fence “in order to attack IDF forces operating on the border,” the IDF said.

A couple of weeks later, IDF forces thwarted an attempt by Palestinian terrorists to place a bomb on the Gaza border fence.  Similar discoveries were also made in April 2016 and January 2015.

The IDF had estimated that the Islamic Jihad was planning an attack following the IDF’s demolition of a terror tunnel in October. A total of 14 terrorists were killed in the aftermath of the tunnel collapse, including two senior Islamic Jihad field commanders.

“Today’s incident on the Gaza Strip border is severe. We will respond appropriately. I send my wishes for a quick recovery to the wounded,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated.