Egyptian officer who killed three IDF soldiers identified; Israel vows ‘full’ investigation

'The deadly incident on the Egyptian border on Shabbat is severe and extraordinary and will be fully investigated,' Prime Minister Netanyahu said.

By Jotam Confino 5 June 2023, 11:30 am
From left to right, Ohad Dahan, Lia Ben and Uri Yitzhak Iloz, the three Israeli soldiers who were killed in an attack near the city of Mitzpe Ramon in Israel's southern Negev desert, adjacent to the border with Egypt, on June 3, 2023. Three Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack near Egypt's border after a gunman wearing an Egyptian police uniform opened fire, Israeli officials said. The Egyptian military said that, A gun battle ensued when a member of the Egyptian security forces crossed the security fence with Israel during a chasing of drug smugglers. Photo by IDF/ UPI

The Egyptian police officer who killed three Israeli soldiers on Saturday morning has been identified as 22-year-old Mohamed Salah Ibrahim from Cairo.

Ibrahim crossed the border from Egypt into Israel on Saturday through an emergency barrier used by the IDF and Egyptian authorities, using combat knives to cut through the fence.

He then proceeded to kill Staff Sgt. Ori Yitzhak Iluz, 20, and Sgt. Lia Ben Nun, 19 some 150 meters from the border at an Israeli guard post. The two Israeli soldiers were caught by surprise and didn’t manage to open fire in time.

After a drone identified Ibrahim hiding some 1,5 kilometre from the border, he opened fire at a group of Israeli soldiers nearby, killing Staff Sgt. Ohad Dahan, 20.

He was killed a few minutes later by Israeli soldiers who closed in on him. In addition to the two combat knives he used to cut through the barrier, the military said Ibrahim was in possession of a Quran and six magazines for the assault rifle he was carrying.


According to Israeli media, Ibrahim had complained about his military service and was struggling with mental health issues after a colleague of his died. He had also shown sympathy with Palestinians in Gaza during thew 2021 war between Israel and Hamas.

Admitting to “systemic” failures that led to the fatal incident, IDF chief Herzl Halevi appointed Maj. Gen. Nimrod Aloni to lead a team that will “examine the operational and systemic perception of defence of peaceful borders.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the highly unusual incident at the otherwise quiet border with Egypt, saying: “The deadly incident on the Egyptian border on Shabbat is severe and extraordinary and will be fully investigated.”

“I want to commend our forces who sought contact and eliminated the terrorist,” he added.

Herzi Halevi, the Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, (C-R) inspects the area where three israeli soldiers were killed in an attack near the city of Mitzpe Ramon in Israel’s southern Negev desert, adjacent to the border with Egypt, on June 3, 2023. Three Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack near Egypt’s border after a gunman wearing an Egyptian police uniform opened fire, Israeli officials said. The Egyptian military said that, a gun battle ensued when a member of the Egyptian security forces crossed the security fence with Israel during a chasing of drug smugglers. Photo

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant meanwhile spoke with his Egyptian counterpart, Mohamed Zaki, saying in a statement that the cooperation between Israel and Egypt in investigating the attack “is of great importance to the ties between our countries.”

A statement from Gallant’s office said that he expressed his “appreciation to Minister Zaki for his commitment and cooperation” in the investigation, while emphasising the |importance of cooperating further in order to prevent such events in the future.”

Gallant also stressed the importance of the ties between Israel and Egypt, as well as the commitment to “maintaining ongoing communication and ensuring the cooperation between the respective establishments to prevent such events in the future.”

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