IDF soldiers shot and killed two Palestinian terrorists trying to plant explosives on the Gaza security fence on Sunday.
The suspected terrorists approached the fence north of Khan Younis on a motorbike when they were spotted by soldiers at a nearby observation post. Troops from the Haruv infantry battalion who were called to the scene engaged the terrorists and killed them, the army said in a statement.
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Palestinian media outlets reported that at least two terrorists were killed in the incident. The health ministry in Gaza said two Palestinians had been killed in an exchange of fire with IDF troops. Palestinians outlets were also reporting that the IDF was preventing local paramedics from evacuating the bodies from the scene.
The initial belief within the defense establishment was that the suspected terrorists were part of a separatist cell from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.
Meanwhile, Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported on Saturday that Hamas in Gaza had raised alert levels in fear of a significant surprise Israeli attack, despite the easing of restrictions that included the approval of 7,000 work permits and expanding fishing zones off the Gaza coast to 15 nautical miles.
A senior Hamas official in Gaza told the paper: "We believe there's a chance of an assassination attempt or significant aerial strike before the election in Israel [on March 2]."
On Friday, Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, met with Qatari envoy Muhamad al-Amadi in Gaza city. The two discussed economic initiatives to improve the lives of Gazans and infrastructure in the coastal enclave.
Al-Amadi announced that a hospital would be constructed in southern Gaza at a cost of $24 million.
"There was a positive mood at the meeting and an eagerness to provide a better future for our citizens," Hamas said in a statement. The meeting marked Sinwar's first public appearance in some time and followed a report last week by Arab media outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Israel had considered assassinating Sinwar but was dissuaded by Egyptian mediators.
Shahar Klaiman contributed to this report.
