Israeli forces on Sunday fired on two men from Gaza during what the Israeli military said was an attempt to plant a bomb along the Gaza security fence. Palestinian sources reported both were killed.
The two men were spotted from a nearby military observation post as they approached the fence north of Khan Yunis on a motorbike, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Troops from Israel’s Haruv Battalion who were called to the scene engaged the suspected terrorists, the IDF said in a statement. The Israeli military did not confirm the men’s death, saying only that “a hit was identified.”
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that two Palestinians had been killed in an exchange of fire with IDF troops, while Palestinian media outlets claimed the IDF was preventing local paramedics from evacuating the bodies from the scene.
The initial belief within the defense establishment was that the two men belonged to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.
On Friday, Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar met with Qatari envoy Muhammad al-Amadi in Gaza City. The two discussed economic initiatives to improve the lives of Gazans, as well as Gaza infrastructure.
Al-Amadi announced that a hospital would be constructed in southern Gaza at a cost of $24 million.
“There was a positive mood at the meeting and an eagerness to provide a better future for our citizens,” Hamas said in a statement. The meeting marked Sinwar’s first public appearance in some time and followed a report last week by Arab media outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Israel had considered assassinating him but was dissuaded by Egyptian mediators.
Shahar Klaiman contributed to this report.
This is an edited version of an article that first appeared in Israel Hayom.
(JNS)
{Matzav.com}
