Israeli troops thwarted three separate infiltration attempts on the Israel-Gaza Strip border within hours of each other on Sunday, killing three Palestinian terrorists and arresting others, the Israel Defense Forces said.
The incidents come against the backdrop of weekly Hamas-led demonstrations and riots on the border over the past month. At least 40 Palestinians have been killed in the border clashes. The protests will continue every Friday with a final mass demonstration in the works for May 15.
The IDF said two terrorists had tried to breach the border fence and infiltrate Israeli territory near the defunct Kissufim crossing, hurling explosive devices at the Israeli soldiers patrolling the area. The troops shot and killed both terrorists.
About half an hour earlier, two Palestinians compromised the security fence near Kibbutz Holit and tried to cross into Israel. IDF troops patrolling the area opened fire, killing one of them.
The other was detained for questioning by the Shin Bet security agency.
In a third incident, soldiers spotted two Palestinians trying to breach the border. They were arrested and found to be in possession of knives and wire cutters, and were turned over to the Shin Bet.
Defense officials said the incidents were part of Hamas' plan to step up border incidents ahead of the May 15 commemoration of the displacement of Palestinian refugees during Israel's 1948 War of Independence, known in Arabic as the "Nakba" ("Catastrophe").
Dozens of infiltration attempts have taken place over the past month, including attempts to breach the security fence during the Friday riots.
Last weekend, hundreds of rioters, led by Hamas operatives, tried to rush the fence while hurling firebombs and explosives at Israeli troops, who fended them off.
"The IDF does not take lightly Hamas' ongoing efforts to introduce violence and terror to the border area under the guise of civilian protest, and its repeated attempts to damage defense and security infrastructure," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement.
"The IDF will not allow the callous use of civilians, including women, children and the disabled, as a cover for terrorist activity against Israeli security forces and civilians. Israel will continue to respond with force to any such terrorist attack.
"The IDF's response to continued events of this nature will not be limited to the security forces and Hamas will be held accountable even deep in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas terrorist organization bears sole responsibility for everything that transpires in Gaza, be it above or below ground," the statement said.
