Three injured in terror attack
Terrorists struck again on the Israel-Gaza border this week, planting an explosive device that wounded three Israeli soldiers.
The attack came just three weeks after another soldier was wounded, causing lasting injury. Like those injured this week, he was going about routine surveillance activity.
The explosion took place on Tuesday morning. Two of the injured soldiers were treated on the scene, while the other was evacuated by helicopter to a hospital. At press time, he was in moderate condition.
The Israeli military issued a statement pointing a finger at terrorists’ “relentless attempts to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers by using the area adjacent to the security fence for laying explosive devices and attempting to carry out terror attacks”.
Military spokesman Arye Shalicar told The AJN that whichever terrorist group perpetrated the attack, Israel regards it to be Hamas’s fault. “We see responsibility for anything emanating from the Gaza Strip to be with Hamas as they are the ones ruling Gaza,” he said.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for last month’s attack, which struck Captain Ziv Shilon while he was on a routine patrol adjacent to the security fence near Kissufim,
The explosion completely destroyed Shilon’s left hand and severely injured his right hand. “I remember losing one hand and then seeing the other one crushed. I held one hand with the other. I put myself into the car and told the paramedic to use a tourniquet,” said Shilon. “It’s not easy losing your hands but I won’t give up. If I can completely restore the use of my hand, I will return to the army,” he said.
This week’s attack came after a month of significant violence against Israeli targets. October saw a major increase in the number of terrorist attacks: 166, as opposed to 91 in September, according to new figures released by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).
The main increase in violence was along the Gaza-Israel border, where there were 96 attacks in October, compared to 23 in September. Of those 96 attacks, 72 were rocket launchings; 20 were mortar-shell launchings; two were roadside bombs, and two were attacks through other means.
In addition to the attack by the Gaza border, this week saw violence in Jerusalem. On Tuesday, locals rioted in the Arab neighbourhood of Shuafat. Several policemen were injured by rocks that thrown, and another policeman was stabbed.
NATHAN JEFFAY
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