Palestinians say Gaza man shot, wounded by IDF
Israel says soldiers securing border came under attack, but only responded with warning shots into the air
Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip claimed Monday that the IDF shot and moderately wounded a man during a border incident. Israel said, however, that troops only fired into the air as a warning.
According to the Palestinian new agency Ma’an, local Gazans reported that the man was shot in the leg east of Maghazi refugee camp in the center of the Hamas-ruled Strip, where he lay unattended for half an hour until an ambulance could reach him. The man was eventually taken to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in nearby Deir al-Balah.
The IDF said in a statement that troops came under fire and responded with warning shots into the air.
“Initial reports suggest that earlier this morning an assailant opened fire at IDF soldiers securing the border along the southern Gaza Strip, adjacent to the community of Kissufim,” the statement read. “Forces responded, firing warning shots into the air.”
There were no injuries among the IDF soldiers.
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In December last year Palestinian Yusef al-Buhel, 48, was wounded during violent clashes with IDF soldiers in the area of the Maghazi refugee camp and died a week later from his injuries, the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled area said at the time.
Buhel was one of about 40 Palestinians wounded in the clashes that took place at several points along the border fence. An IDF spokeswoman reported that hundreds of Palestinians took part and there were fears that they would try to break through into Israel.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
