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IDF soldiers following a battle in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. (Jini)
Last update - 01:49 17/04/2008
Three Israeli soldiers killed in ambush near Gaza border
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel, IDF, Hamas

Three Israel Defense Forces soldiers from the elite Givati Brigade were killed on Wednesday in an exchange of heavy gunfire with Palestinian militants next to the Gaza Strip security fence.

A preliminary IDF investigation suggests that an operational error occurred during the soldiers' raid, a senior officer in the Southern Command told Haaretz.

The officer said that the army was investigating why reinforcements were not sent to back up the Givati troops and whether the soldiers were sent on the correct path.
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The IDF said that the clashes occurred near Kibbutz Be'eri, in the western Negev, as troops entered the Strip to arrest a band of suspicious figures.

The soldiers were killed after troops spotted two Hamas militants planting a bomb near the Israeli border. Troops pursued the militants, only to fall into an ambush by another Hamas force lying in wait, Israeli defense officials said.

Three other soldiers were wounded in the clashes, two of them moderately, and were taken to the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva for treatment.

The army named the slain soldiers as Corporal Matan Ovadati, 19, of Moshav Patish, Sergeant David Papian, 21, of Tel Aviv, and Sergeant Menhash al-Banyat, 20, from a Bedouin village in the Negev.

An IDF spokeswoman said soldiers had shot several Palestinian gunmen during the fighting, though there were no reports of injuries among the militants.

The six Israeli casualties were struck in the first few minutes of the clashes. Two soliers were killed instantly, another was critically wounded and the other four sustained various levels of injuries.

Palestinian medical workers and Hamas reported that IDF troops killed four Hamas gunmen in a separate battle in Gaza near a terminal used to supply fuel to the coastal territory.

Hamas said soldiers, backed by helicopters, killed the four militants during fighting east of Gaza City, a few hundred metres from the Nahal Oz border terminal. The terminal was the site of a terrorist attack last week, in which two Israeli civilian workers were shot dead by Gaza gunmen.


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      1.   It`s immoral to go supporting Israel`s call to violence ... 09:30  |  Dutch 16/04/08
      2.   Dutch just loves immorality 10:26  |  Joe Sittizen 16/04/08
      3.   To Dutch # 1 10:34  |  dovale 16/04/08
      4.   to dutch 10:34  |  david 16/04/08
      5.   what about the two iof soliders 10:44  |  KHALILISHABIB 16/04/08
      6.   APOLOGISTS note the targets were armed Hamas militia. 10:45  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      7.   Hamas says: 2 IFD soldiers have been killed and 6 injurred 10:48  |  Observor 16/04/08
      8.   IDF`s PRIDE TO KILL AND TO BE KILLED 10:55  |  indrajaya 16/04/08
      9.   DUTCH Now what is your problem? 10:58  |  Gil 16/04/08
      10.   the mighty idf/iaf, HUH 11:12  |  VIPER 16/04/08
      11.   #1 Dutch 12:08  |  Realist 16/04/08
      12.   Analysis 12:12  |  Gaza resident 16/04/08
      13.   SHABIB. Jerusalem Israel.They will be burried with dignity 12:23  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      14.   what do u expect? 12:45  |  gaza 16/04/08
      15.   Start to take out Hamas leaders 13:04  |  SystemF 16/04/08
      16.   You completely miss the point 13:14  |  Ruth 16/04/08
      17.   #14 13:22  |  jeff 16/04/08
      18.   Arabs are not violating internatioal laws!! 13:23  |  Samir 16/04/08
      19.   avenge with peace....? 13:49  |  ravi 16/04/08
      20.   TO NO 12 PALESTINIAN RESIDENT. 13:50  |  DANNY. 16/04/08
      21.   t`s immoral to go supporting ignorance dear DUTCH 13:51  |  Daniel 16/04/08
      22.   Ambushed 13:51  |  jjvanka 16/04/08
      23.   Ambushed 13:54  |  jjvanka 16/04/08
      24.   Occupation 14:03  |  Palestinian 16/04/08
      25.   Unlike the IDF, Hamas men know what they are fighting for 14:05  |  Chanalau, Tova 16/04/08
      26.   #18 answer is 9/11 14:06  |  CM 16/04/08
      27.   Ambush adn Snipers 14:08  |  Jalal 16/04/08
      28.   Israel pays the price of its arrogance 14:10  |  Clickfool 16/04/08
      29.   Hamas doesn`t want the fuel to come in 14:21  |  Aphemia 16/04/08
      30.   Samir from Gaza (what planet?) 14:32  |  Nightingale 16/04/08
      31.   Stop our enemies to write in the newspapers 14:39  |  Moshe Alkuds-hitler 16/04/08
      32.   SAMIR what is daily missiles targetting Israeli civillians? 14:41  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      33.   Target success 14:47  |  lily 16/04/08
      34.   CFOOL price of what? Hamas attacks unarmed fuel depot attendents 14:47  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      35.   CHANALAU.Fighting for Jihad for Islam in Palestine & 14:51  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      36.   Hit Hamas buildings 14:54  |  arun 16/04/08
      37.   INDRAJAYA IDF no "pride to be killed" or kill 14:54  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      38.   The enormous depreciatation 14:57  |  Human Rights 16/04/08
      39.   Samir # 18 Your Logic Stinks (part 1) 14:58  |  Jeff Northridge 16/04/08
      40.   This has been planned upfront ?! 15:07  |  ffsb 16/04/08
      41.   #8: indrajaya, why does the IDF need to.... 15:14  |  Doc Holliday 16/04/08
      42.   #36 15:17  |  Jim 16/04/08
      43.   Hunger & depression generates innovation 15:22  |  Human Rights 16/04/08
      44.   Samir # 18 Your Logic Stinks (part 2) 15:29  |  Jeff Northridge 16/04/08
      45.   To Gaza resident 15:34  |  American Christian 16/04/08
      46.   ISRAEL ARROGANCE 15:35  |  LEBANESE GUY 16/04/08
      47.   Palestinians fight back ! 15:37  |  matt 16/04/08
      48.   This is how it`s going to be 15:38  |  Natallie Durson 16/04/08
      49.   To gaza 15:40  |  American Christian 16/04/08
      50.   Samir # 18 Your Logic Stinks (part 3) 15:42  |  Jeff Northridge 16/04/08
      51.   To Palestinian 15:48  |  American Gentile 16/04/08
      52.   Mabe it`s time to be honest? 15:52  |  Straight Talk 16/04/08
      53.   david 4 15:54  |  potobac 16/04/08
      54.   Win the war against terror. 15:55  |  Jean Van Daem 16/04/08
      55.   Nonsense from Jeff Northridge #39 15:55  |  crapspotter 16/04/08
      56.   One year ago, Lebanese artillery pounded terrorist"refugee"camps 15:58  |  common sense 16/04/08
      57.   Condolences 15:59  |  KUTW 16/04/08
      58.   #27 jalal, you are scum! 16:04  |  DR 16/04/08
      59.   The lesson from this incident 16:05  |  KUTW 16/04/08
      60.   Best wishes to the wounded 16:06  |  KUTW 16/04/08
      61.   Viper and the end of the IDF 16:07  |  DR 16/04/08
      62.   "Human Rights"... 16:09  |  Linichka 16/04/08
      63.   #44 Jeff makes a bold statement 16:10  |  Johnboy 16/04/08
      64.   Carter?s friends in action 16:11  |  KUTW" 16/04/08
      65.   #25, you are a delusional freak! 16:12  |  DR 16/04/08
      66.   WHY SEND SOLDIERS ON ERRANDS? RETAKE GAZA, STOP THE BLOODSHED!))) 16:17  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 16/04/08
      67.   #52 Straight talk talks nonsense 16:22  |  Johnboy 16/04/08
      68.   On the israeli culture of violence 16:29  |  kaled 16/04/08
      69.   HOW LONG WILL THIS GOVNMT. NOT 16:32  |  Robert 16/04/08
      70.   Kadima sacrifices Givati as well as Sderot now 16:32  |  Nuchem 16/04/08
      71.   Samir # 18 UNSCR 341 16:32  |  Jeff Northridge 16/04/08
      72.   VOICE of MOSHIACH ! YOU FAKE FACIIST LOSER 16:37  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 16/04/08
      73.   wrong DR in florida 16:48  |  guess 16/04/08
      74.   Landmines? 16:48  |  Oleh 16/04/08
      75.   this voice of the putz))) is some welfare squatter 16:51  |  clear as glass 16/04/08
      76.   #25, Chanalau... 16:56  |  Silvienne 16/04/08
      77.   So, am I right in thinking........ 16:56  |  Johnboy 16/04/08
      78.   67# Johnboy 16:57  |  ChachChach 16/04/08
      79.   With all our heart joining the Ovadati family. 16:57  |  Fortuna Benmayor 16/04/08
      80.   to 12 16:58  |  Harry 16/04/08
      81.   #25 tova the bad in wonderland with silly comments 17:00  |  v ictor hardman3 16/04/08
      82.   1. Dutch: the poor hamas terrorists 17:02  |  KUTW 16/04/08
      83.   No cease fire is a good training for Hamas 17:04  |  Tosefta 16/04/08
      84.   #63 Johnboy...so what should we do? 17:05  |  DR 16/04/08
      85.   crapspotter # 55 The Fact Remains That... 17:10  |  Jeff Northridge 16/04/08
      86.   1 year left for the SOB Olmert. Unless Shas quits? 17:12  |  cant take much more 16/04/08
      87.   3 KILLED AND 5 WOUNDED IN FIRST MINUTES OF CLASH 17:20  |  JoeMomma 16/04/08
      88.   How does it feel??? 17:24  |  Joe 16/04/08
      89.   why??? 17:28  |  matilda 16/04/08
      90.   Many people in Israel believe that they only have the choice..... 17:33  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/04/08
      91.   # 12 Gaza Resident..actually you`re wrong 17:36  |  Lynn 16/04/08
      92.   "suspicious looking figures"... Arab & young! Sounds like being 17:37  |  Tupac 16/04/08
      93.   Olmerts failed Government continues on autopilot 17:45  |  Dish It Out 16/04/08
      94.   indrajaya & pride 17:53  |  Kevin Noonan 16/04/08
      95.   #87joe momma and more stupid comments about 17:55  |  v ictor hardman3 16/04/08
      96.   # 12 GAZA RESIDENT - YOU HAVE TO BLAME 17:58  |  ANUAR AL SADAT 16/04/08
      97.   Typical OLMERT STYLE Israel loses precious lives 18:00  |  Dagma 16/04/08
      98.   @Swiss (Dino) 90 18:08  |  Ralph 16/04/08
      99.   #56 common sense..Good Point!! 18:09  |  : 16/04/08
      100.   #62 Linichka: Watch the news now to realiase the truth 18:09  |  Human Rights 16/04/08
      101.   # 52 Straight Talk..Yes Time to Be Honest. 18:17  |  K 16/04/08
      102.   # 43 Human Rights..Hunger & depresssion innovation?Don`t think So 18:23  |  K 16/04/08
      103.   Hamas is assuring Bibi is the next president, and then what 18:23  |  Silence 16/04/08
      104.   Gaza 18:25  |  TLV 16/04/08
      105.   76.Silvienne SUPPORT FOR JIHAD 18:25  |  KUTW 16/04/08
      106.   Blame the soldiers deaths on the Israeli leadership ... 18:31  |  Dutch 16/04/08
      107.   # 41 Doc Holliday.If I may,my condolences to the families 18:35  |  K 16/04/08
      108.   Johnboy # 63 Customary International Law (part 1) 18:36  |  Jeff Northridge 16/04/08
      109.   8. indrajaya IDF`s PRIDE TO DEFEND THEIR COUNTRY 18:39  |  KUTW 16/04/08
      110.   To VOICE OF MOSHIACH))) # 66 - Well Said! 18:40  |  Dolly 16/04/08
      111.   # 2 Joe sittizen Re: immoral killing 18:43  |  Dutch 16/04/08
      112.   106. Dutch: hamas cease-fires 18:44  |  KUTW 16/04/08
      113.   All too sad. Arabs and Jews will have to live together regardless 18:45  |  Arab 16/04/08
      114.   Gil, Re: Two wrong don`t make a right 18:49  |  Dutch 16/04/08
      115.   Christians must support Arab Christians and peace! 18:50  |  Reformed Christian 16/04/08
      116.   # 76 Silvienne..Cut The Crap..Hamas is in Gaza,and.. 18:54  |  K 16/04/08
      117.   Johnboy # 63 Customary International Law (part 2) 19:01  |  Jeff Northridge 16/04/08
      118.   # 51: To American Gentile 19:07  |  Human Rights 16/04/08
      119.   To # 107 - K - The DEFENCE MINISTRY 19:09  |  The Threadmill 16/04/08
      120.   #45 open your eyes 19:15  |  Yasir 16/04/08
      121.   Jonboy#43 re right of nationality 19:29  |  lawprof 16/04/08
      122.   #91 LYNN is Wrong-Gaza resident is Right! 19:34  |  ahmed 16/04/08
      123.   to dutch #106 19:35  |  stiggy 16/04/08
      124.   jvanka 19:41  |  Connie 16/04/08
      125.   chanalau,rah 19:47  |  Connie 16/04/08
      126.   #91 LYNN is Wrong-Gaza resident is Right! 19:49  |  ahmed 16/04/08
      127.   #91 LYNN is Wrong-Gaza resident is Right! 19:49  |  ahmed 16/04/08
      128.   #112 Human Rights 19:54  |  dave 16/04/08
      129.   For Clickfool. 19:56  |  David Nigel Braham 16/04/08
      130.   # 98 Ralph 20:01  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/04/08
      131.   #102:Targeting civilians deliberately is worse than occupation 20:18  |  Human Rights 16/04/08
      132.   Johnboy # 63 Customary International Law (part 3) 20:22  |  Jeff Northridge 16/04/08
      133.   # 88 Joe ....How Does It Feel.. 20:32  |  KATHY 16/04/08
      134.   Get real Danny.... 20:48  |  Palestinian Brit 16/04/08
      135.   # 114 Human Rights.re:The American Gentile..Now I`ve heard it all 20:58  |  KATHY 16/04/08
      136.   Immoral 21:07  |  Martin 16/04/08
      137.   # 131 Human Rights. Targeting civilians.Bulls Eye! 21:15  |  KATHY 16/04/08
      138.   #2 Joe Sittizen, Arabs call for violence against Jews 21:30  |  Dutch 16/04/08
      139.   Gaza is S. Lebanon all over. Incompetent IDF against competent 21:30  |  Yossi Cronenberg 16/04/08
      140.   Why am I so happy today. Just tickled 21:35  |  POP 16/04/08
      141.   Gil, Re Two wrongs don`t manke a right 21:36  |  Dutch 16/04/08
      142.   Oops 21:46  |  Mark Lincoln 16/04/08
      143.   Terrible news today , I hope for strength for the families 21:51  |  Mark B. 16/04/08
      144.   Kim, Re: Hamas ` previous cease-fire 21:53  |  Dutch 16/04/08
      145.   #126 stiggy, Fighting terror 22:08  |  Dutch 16/04/08
      146.   On the frontlines of Global Jihad, IDF HEROES Gave their lives 22:36  |  Linda Rivera 16/04/08
      147.   #18 THOUSANDS Jews Maimed & MURDERED for WICKED LIE of Occupation 22:41  |  Linda Rivera 16/04/08
      148.   Inhuman rights 22:42  |  Linichka 16/04/08
      149.   The Resistance by Palestinians 22:49  |  Harold 16/04/08
      150.   Haaretz - why do you keep doing it? 22:54  |  Patriot 16/04/08
      151.   19, 20, 21 23:05  |  sam 16/04/08
      152.   Israel rifles given to Fatah at the behest of Condi Rice is killi 23:06  |  HonestAbe 16/04/08
      153.   Mark Lincoln # 142 Somebody Got Overly Aggressive 23:14  |  Jeff Northridge 16/04/08
      154.   The families of the three soldiers 23:19  |  jp 16/04/08
      155.   The re-appearance of "Linda Rivera" # 146 & #147 23:41  |  Clickfool 16/04/08
      156.   it is war, fighters die but kids also die 00:04  |  mehmet 17/04/08
      157.   Mistake 00:11  |  Angel 17/04/08
      158.   Desperately sad, losing Israeli lives 00:16  |  x-ray 17/04/08
      159.   To JJVANKA (AMBUSHED) 00:53  |  Albert The Jew 17/04/08
      160.   #138 Dutch - go read a history book you moron. 01:35  |  Joe Sittizen 17/04/08
      161.   Risking Israeli Soldiers 01:44  |  Ron 17/04/08
      162.   16 Ruth of Beer Sheva - Missing Points 01:52  |  Mark of Lewiston 17/04/08
      163.   #121 The lawprof says.... 01:59  |  Johnboy 17/04/08
      164.   KUTW - Invasion is NOT Always a Good Idea 02:03  |  Mark of Lewiston 17/04/08
      165.   So even with air support, they still lose men? 02:33  |  Palestinian Prince 17/04/08
      166.   AMERICAN GENTILE, THE OCCUPATION CONTINUED 02:35  |  ELIAS KHOURY 17/04/08
      167.   Sincere condolences to families & friends 02:56  |  Free Gilad Shalit 17/04/08
      168.   OLMERT IS A DEFEATIST WHO CAVES INTO BOTH TERRORIST GROUPS 03:02  |  Charles Weiss 17/04/08
      169.   #154 jp 03:11  |  sam 17/04/08
      170.   they wenyt to hunt, but got hunted 03:45  |  sama 17/04/08
      171.   #85 Jeff Northridge re Palestine refugees 1948 04:08  |  Ben Alofs 17/04/08
      172.   American Stupid Christian 04:16  |  Joe F 17/04/08
      173.   Israel retaliates to allow Hamas Gazans to Exist 05:00  |  Zev 17/04/08
      174.   G-D BLESS ISRAEL 05:17  |  Mark 17/04/08
      175.   #121 Brave statement of what Customary Law is *not*... 07:04  |  Johnboy 17/04/08
      176.   Young dead 08:01  |  Niva dos santos 17/04/08
      177.   #30 rossignol and arab threats 08:12  |  hala 17/04/08
      178.   #147 Linda Rivera and Jewish presence in Palestine for 4000 yrs 08:21  |  hala 17/04/08
      179.   To Ron # 159 - Who cares? 08:22  |  Charlie 17/04/08
      180.   #158 Joe Sittizen 08:28  |  hala 17/04/08
      181.   To # 159 Ron - Who cares? 08:32  |  Charlie 17/04/08
      182.   #109 Dear KUTW, re "peaceful neighbors" 08:34  |  hala 17/04/08
      183.   hala 09:31  |  Linichka 17/04/08
      184.   why the hell doesn`t israel deploy the "phalanx"... 10:13  |  eric 17/04/08
      185.   Viper 10:35  |  Rab Burns 17/04/08
      186.   #178, RAB BURNS, understand this 11:25  |  VIPER 17/04/08
      187.   #186 what the 13:13  |  Rab Burns 17/04/08
      188.   #144; Dutch, that was simply a shell game not a truce 15:52  |  Doc Holliday 17/04/08
      189.   #166;ELIAS KHOURY Gaza was the test, and the Pals failed 16:02  |  Doc Holliday 17/04/08
      190.   #171; Ben Alofs, may be you should consider reading 16:10  |  Doc Holliday 17/04/08
      191.   164. Mark of Lewiston 17:42  |  KUTW 17/04/08
      192.   182. hala 17:49  |  KUTW 17/04/08
      193.   144. Dutch: hamas "cease-fires" 17:53  |  KUTW 17/04/08
      194.   Palestinians can plant whatever they like on their side 19:27  |  John 17/04/08
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