According to Palestinian sources from Gaza, mortars fired from Strip on IDF forces. Hamas terrorist killed & another injured from IDF tank fire.

By Elior Levy

Palestinian sources reported Thursday evening that mortars were fired from Gaza in response to the limited entry of IDF forces into the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave, near the security fence. According to the sources, an IDF anti-tank shell was fired toward an are located east of the city of Khan Younis in north Gaza.

IDF tank unit watches border.- Photo courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Office

The Palestinians further reported that during exchanges of fire between terrorists and IDF forces near the city of Abasan in south Gaza, a Palestinian terrorist was killed and another was wounded, apparently from IDF tank fire. The Israeli forces were targeting a cell belonging to Hamas’ armed wing – the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The Palestinians identified the terrorist who was killed as Rabiya Barakeh, 21.

The IDF recently uncovered in the Abasan area a 1.5-kilometer long tunnel that stretched from Gaza to the fields of Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha. The tunnel was meant to facilitate a complex terror attack involving an assault on soldiers or civilians.

Earlier this week the rocket fire on south Israel resumed after nearly a month of calm. Two rockets were fired from the Strip in the early hours of Monday morning. One was intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system. The IDF retaliated a few hours later by attacking rocket-launching pads in north Gaza.

Despite protests, IDF security details for the 13 Gaza-vicinity communities were officially terminated on Thursday morning, as soldiers left their posts and turned over authority to the local residents.

Residents of Netiv Ha’asara demonstrated against the move on Wednesday, but on Thursday held an emotional farewell ceremony for the departing soldiers.

View original Ynet publication at: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4448193,00.html