Prefer Jewish News on Google
Four armed Palestinians attempting to cross from Gaza into Israel are killed
Israeli army spokesperson calls the incident a 'very significant attempt to attack Israel' from terrorists
Israeli troops have killed four Palestinian terrorists who attempted to cross through the perimeter fence from the Gaza Strip, stoking fears of escalation after months of uneasy calm.
This was the highest number of Palestinians killed in a single day since May, when an unofficial ceasefire ended the worst bout of violence in years between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic terror group that rules Gaza.
Lieutenant Colonrl Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, called it a “very significant attempt to attack Israel”.
“We hold Hamas responsible and accountable for any acts of violence emanating from the Gaza Strip whether they were Hamas operatives or not,” he said at a briefing with reporters.
No Palestinian group claimed responsibility.
Hamas, in a statement denying its involvement, stressed that it was an “individual act by angry youths”.
“The occupation is responsible for the state of anger and pressure inflicted on our people due to the continued siege on Gaza,” said Abdel-Latif al-Qanou, a Hamas spokesman.
Lt Col Conricus said the four were armed with automatic rifles, hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. He said Israeli soldiers opened fire when the terrorists tried to climb the fence, and that the terrorists returned fire before being killed. No Israelis soldiers were hurt.
Early in August, Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian terrorist who opened fire at forces behind the fence. Three soldiers sustained light to moderate wounds.
The Gaza-Israel frontier has remained tense despite the ceasefire.
Hamas has staged weekly demonstrations along the boundary since March 2018 to protest against the strip’s dire conditions after 12 years of Israeli-Egyptian blockade.
The terror group cancelled this Friday’s protest because of the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
