Israeli troops kill Gaza militant in border clash
Palestinian dead and IDF tank commander lightly wounded as army opens fire on militants apparently attempting to plant explosives; two Qassam rockets strike western Negev.
By Anshel Pfeffer and Reuters Tags: Israel news GazaIsraeli troops killed a Palestinian militant on the border with the Gaza Strip after an exchange of fire on Monday in which an IDF tank commander was also lightly wounded, the army said.
Later on Monday, two Qassam rockets fired from Gaza struck open areas in the western Negev region, causing no casualties or damage.
 |
IDF soldiers stand on an APC near the Gaza border, on April 13, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
According to the IDF, the dead Palestinian militant was Basem Da'ama, an Islamic Jihad field operative who had taken part in the exchange of fire in late March in which IDF soldiers Eliraz Peretz and Ilan Sviatkovsky were killed.
The exchange of fire began around 4 p.m. when soldiers from the IDF's Givati Brigade identified two Palestinian militants who were apparently planting an explosive device near the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip.
"The force opened fire at the suspects, one militant was killed," a military spokesman said.
Palestinian militants returned fire towards IDF troops and a tank commander was wounded lightly by shrapnel.
Militants said they had fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the IDF force during the exchange of fire.
IDF engineers neutralized an explosive device found at the scene of the incident.
Palestinian residents near the town of Khan Younis said they heard gunfire in the area and said that one man was unaccounted for after the incident, although a body had not yet been recovered.
Violent incidents along the Israel-Gaza border have become less frequent since a three-week war in the Gaza Strip ended in January 2009. This was the second militant killed this month in clashes between militants and Israeli troops.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
The same tired old tactics from a tired old defense minister ! Tactics that are guaranteed to bring failure as so many other past failures of the brilliant defense minister ! The man is an empty suit of dirty clothes!
"an Islamic Jihad field operative". Isn't that what most other armies would call "a soldier"? "two Palestinian militants who were apparently planting an explosive device near the security fence" Err, anyone else notice the weasel-word "apparently"? The IDF spokesmodel puts that in when they know their claim won't stand up to scrutiny. "IDF engineers neutralized an explosive device found at the scene of the incident." Masterful! I *could* point out that the word "explosive devide" is just as applicable to an "unfired RPG round" as it is to an "IED". And I *could* also point out that "the scene of the incident" ain't necessarily describing a place that is "near the security fence". This is magnificent propaganda, because the wording is *just* *as* *applicable* to a foiled bomb-laying attempt as it is to a situation where the IDF has attacked an IJ patrol because, well, IDF boys just can't restrain themselves.....
The original story did not even confirm there was an explosive, just that there might have been. No details as yet. There were no names in the original story either. And obviously, if it was a sophisticated device, it would have been harder to disarm. Hence we can conclude that Iranian Rev guards technology was not used. That kinda puts the lie to the supposition that Iran is really helping Hamas. If they were there would be a dead soldier. Their stuff killed a lot of GIs in Iraq. Since Jasper and "Voice" have his personal number, they can call Haniya. I don't know the guy, to their chagrin.
Status quo. Shoot at the IDF and get whacked in return.
The Palestinian branch of the Moslem Brotherhood, Hamas needs to be permanently removed from the planet starting with Gaza. This fanatical organization has only one purpose and that is the violent imposition of their version of Islam at any cost in human lives. The other terrorist organizations such as Islamic Jihad are simply hired guns used by Hamas to further their own bloody ends.
A more apt title would be "Hamas must be exterminated". That is not genocide. It is the removal by force and extreme predjudice of a terrorist organization that infects all around it--both gazans and Israelis. In medical terms, it is like cutting off a gangrenous limb so that the body can survive.
about the Jewish people. Hamas is a direct response to Israeli occupation. You created them and the best way to make them go away is to end the occupation.
that reporters should dig a bit to find out what they were reporting about really was. I would add that readers should dig a bit to check out what they are reading.
Maybe they should bring in UNIFIL to monitor the border area.
If the device planted was defensive and on the Gaza side of the border, it was legitimate and Israel had no right to start shooting.
At least Pal propaganda has convinced the world that a Pal killing an Israeli is OK The other way round is always despiccable. Nobody cares anymore When a Pal is killed. If a Pal values his own live he would try to keep it, rather then loose it for Hamas insanity.
Always good to be open to suggestions. Meanwhile no great loss.
The planting devices was "apparently" taking place i.e. even the IDF spokesmodel is prevaricating. Notice also that this sentence "IDF engineers neutralized an explosive device found at the scene of the incident" is "apparently" referring to a place where Rocket Propelled Grenades were being fired at Israeli tanks. After all, once an RPG has been armed you can't just pick it up and toss it into the back of your Jeep, and I'm pretty certain that IDF sappers know how to put a pin back into a fuse.
These explosive devices are planted on the border not as defence but as an offensive weopon to attack Israeli Partols on the Israeli Side of the border. They fire scrapnel into an on coming Israeli vehicle or foot patrol. Defence would be if they were planted only to stop intruders but that is not the case and never has been there.
only another 20 years what is new
He plants bombs for a living. Regardless of what you call this moron he is dead good riddance.
the ones that try to plant mines and sneak across the border armed with weapons are the ones that the idf consider to be militants...
Anybody planting explosives along the border fence.
plant a bomb? If so, then yes, everybody is a militant, and the IDF has a right to call them so.
Gazan out to kill another person (idf) is a militant low life murderer
If you did then .... you would notice that there is absolutely no confirmation of any "bomb planting". None. It is something that was "apparently" taking place.
Israeli and Palestinian reporters seem like some of the least curious in the world. The IDF said "planting an explosive device." Nobody ever seems to ask what kind, or what kind of explosives or if it was a functional device or if it was disabled or left in place. You would think if the questions were asked, at least a refusal to answer would be reported. Was it an IED or an EFP? Was it up to Iraq Sunni-militant tech standards? Or was it full Revolutionary Guards Standards?
the feeling that you deserve to know all facts.. what makes you think the military would just turn around and tell a reporter every piece of information he wants to know about their operations? some people are just plain arrogant... maybe i should give iran a call and ask them about the details of the bomb that was thrown at their president 2 weeks ago, i'm sure they will gladly share all the info if i tell them i'm a reporter!
... ask him all those questions, and submit your report on exactly what went on down by the fence. If nothing else, it will give you an appreciation of the fact that such data might be hard to come by. On the other hand, it doesn't take any specifics for some to conclude that IDF is at fault. See the other TBs.
Was killed in what the Palestinians claim was an exchange of fire which also wounded an Israeli soldier. Both sides report essentially the same facts.
You seem to know him better. Can't be friends, we've never met.
You can call him.
ML: "The IDF said 'planting an explosive device.' " No, actually, they didn't. Read the article again: it states only that the IDF claims these dudes were "APPARENTLY planting an explosive device". Note also that the reference that IDF sappers "neutralized an explosive device" is referring to the scene of the firefight, where it is admitted that RGP rounds were fired. Once the pin has been pulled on one o' those suckers you can't just toss it into the back of your truck: you have to "neutralize it". Indeed, I'll suggest that the use of the weasel word "apparently" means that no IEDs were actually found, much to the chagrin of the IDF spokesmodel.....
"Doesnt matter what type of explosive or method of ignition its a bomb and you would not want to be near it when it goes off " You really do need to read hasbarah with a more cynical eye, Elise., precisely because this article is trying verrrrry hard to disguise that the only "explosive device" that the sappers could find to "neutralize" was an RPG round.
"Both sides report essentially the same facts." True, but Pfeffer is spinning this story quite outrageously. Note that the "bomb laying" was something that was "apparently" taking place. Note also that the line about sappers "neutralizing an explosive device" comes immediately after the line about RPGs being employed i.e. those sappers were disarming RPG warheads, not disarming IEDs.
They deserve what JIHADISTS get. My perception is wy call them MILITANTS?Call them by its corect TITLE TERRORISTS.
Thousands will take over his place. He is now in Jannah. May God welcome him in this holly month of Ramadhan. Ameen.
that's how a lot of people feel every time an IDF soldier takes one in the face.
Why not "terrorist" instead?
because the UN and Haaretz choke on the word
The IDF killing a Palestinian? Now, there's news! And, of course, he had to be a militant. We all know that the IDF would never, ever kill an innocent person. Disclaimer: if you believe that one, I also have a slightly used bridge in Brooklyn which I'd like to sell you...cheap.
Sure sounds like it.
what's the difference what you call the pals,they were out to kill idf ( people).