At least two Israeli soldiers were killed and a third was abducted on Sunday morning when armed Palestinian groups infiltrated Israeli territory and attacked an army post in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, near the Soufa crossing.
Hamas, the Popular Resistance Committees and a group called the Army of Islam have taken credit for the attack. Two of the eight gunmen were reportedly killed.
This is the first time Israeli soldiers have been killed since Israel withdrew its forces and civilians from the Gaza Strip last September. The armed groups are not commenting on the kidnapping. Officials from Jordan and Egypt are mediating between Israeli and Palestinian officials to secure the abducted soldier’s release, according to reports. American and European officials have also been approached for assistance.
Israeli Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said as far as the army knows, the abducted soldier is alive.
Eight Palestinians entered Israeli territory in the early hours of Sunday morning through a 100-meter deep tunnel that was dug near military posts.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri justified the attacks, explaining it was a natural response to Israel’s killing of Palestinian civilians and assassination of senior security officials such as Jamal Abu Samhadana.
Other Israeli soldiers sustained light to moderate wounds in the ensuing crossfire and have been taken to hospital.
Israeli military forces have entered Gaza near the area of the attack, in a bid to track down the assailants and find the abducted soldier.
There is speculation that the attackers entered the area from Sinai, in Egypt, and not from the Gaza Strip.