Three Givati Brigade soldiers were killed this morning and three others injured during intense clashes with a Palestinian terror cell near the security fence in central Gaza.
About 6 am soldiers manning an IDF observation post identified Palestinian gunmen approaching the security fence near Kibbutz Be'eri in an apparent attempt to infiltrate Israel. A force from Givati's Tzabar Battalion that was called to the scene entered 500 meters deep into Palestinian territory. The soldiers were killed in the ensuing exchanges of fire.
One of the soldiers killed in the fighting was identified as 19-year-old Corporal Matan Uvdati from Moshav Patsih in the western Negev. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant.
The Palestinians managed to flee to a nearby vantage point, from which they opened fire at the soldiers. Two of the soldiers hit died of their wounds a short time later, and another was pronounced dead some two hours later at Beersheba's Soroka Medical Center. Two of the wounded soldiers are being treated at Soroka, while another soldier was evacuated to the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.
Hamas' military wing has claimed responsibility for the attack.
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