Palestinians say 1 killed, 1 critically hurt in incident; IDF says device exploded during strike, but no soldiers injured.
By JPOST.COM STAFFIDF soldiers walking to Gaza during Operation Cast Lead 311R(photo credit: Ho New / Reuters)
Israel Air Force aircraft in conjunction with IDF tanks opened fire on a group of Palestinians attempting to place explosive devices near the Gaza Border fence near Beit Hanoun on Wednesday, the IDF Spokesman's Office reported.One of the devices exploded, but no soldiers were injured in the incident.RELATED:Hamas marks 3 yrs since IDF Operation Cast Lead'We can't avoid another Gaza confrontation'Palestinian medics said one man was killed in the attack and a second man was critically wounded. Hamas had said earlier that both men were killed in the incident.
It was the first IDF strike in the Gaza Strip since Dec. 30, when an Israeli aircraft killed the leader of an al-Qaida-inspired faction.The Jerusalem Post revealed on Monday that the IDF General Staff has ordered the Southern Command to prepare for a possible large Gaza operation that could occur within the next few months.Preparations include finalizing operational plans and distributing them between the various units that would be deployed inside Gaza. “Gaza is possibly Israel’s most volatile front today,” a member of the General Staff said this week. “It is a front that can explode at any given moment.”
