June 1, 2012
Soldier, Palestinian die in Gaza border shootout
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Smoke rises in Gaza as seen from the Israeli side of border with the Gaza Strip on June 1. Photo by REUTERS/Amir Cohen
A Palestinian gunman and an Israeli soldier were killed in a shootout on the Gaza Strip-Israel border.
The Israeli army said the gunman breached the fence at about 5 a.m. on Friday.
A border patrol detected the breach and confronted the gunman.
He opened fire and killed a solider, and was himself killed in return fire.
The army said the gunman intended an attack on civilians.
Neither Hamas nor Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the infiltration.
“The IDF will act against any entity that operates against the State of Israel,” said an Israeli army statement quoted by Haaretz. “The army views Hamas as responsible for all that occurs in the Gaza Strip.”
Air force planes later struck open fields in Gaza, the newspaper said.
