IDF reveals details of the Gaza border gunbattle with Hamas

The IDF reveals details of the clash between Hamas fighters and the IDF’s Maglan special forces unit on Monday during the mass protests at the Gaza border fence.

Members of the Maglan unit fended off an attempted incursion into Israeli territory by a cell of eight armed Hamas operatives in the northern Gaza Strip, the army says.

In the early hours of Monday afternoon, the IDF “received information about preparations by Hamas members to cross the security fence” in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF says.

Shortly after 1 p.m., a team from Maglan, a special forces unit trained in operating behind enemy lines, was sent to the scene.

“There, eight armed terrorists began throwing pipe bombs and grenades at the troops and the fence,” the army says.

Surveillance footage from the clash shows the suspected terrorists hiding behind a pile of burning tires. As the IDF’s army jeeps pulled up, at least six explosives are seen being thrown toward the border.

“In order to drive them back from the fence, the troops used riot dispersal means. In response, the Hamas terror operatives opened fire at them,” the army says.

“The Maglan unit fired back at the terrorists, acting professionally and [firing] accurately, and prevented a serious shooting attack against our troops and thwarted the intention of the [Hamas] operatives to cross the fence, under the cover of the civilian [protests],” the IDF says in a statement.

Later, when Israeli troops inspected the scene, they found that the eight men were in possession of a handgun, grenades, wire cutters and crowbars.

— Judah Ari Gross