IDF kills man attempting to cross Gaza border

Israel Defense Forces soldiers on Saturday shot dead a man they spotted attempting to cross the border fence with the Gaza Strip.

Initial reports said that IDF troops noticed the man carrying a suspicious package and digging in the ground at a spot along the fence near the Karni border crossing, where terrorists have in the past laid improvised explosive devices.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said the soldiers acted according to procedures for apprehending suspects but, despite their shouted warnings and shots fired in the air, he tried to climb over the fence with the package, at which point they opened fire.

Forces converged on the area and launched an investigation into the incident.

In April IDF soldiers shot and injured a Palestinian after rioters inside Gaza threw rocks at soldiers and tried to damage the fence.