At 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, a group 7-8 members of Hamas and PRC infiltrated into Israel through a 300 meter-long tunnel originating from the Rafah area, passing under the security fence into Israel.
The terrorists then split into three teams - the first team attacked an Armored Personnel Carrier with anti-tank fire; the second team attacked the outpost; and the third team attacked an IDF tank with anti-tank fire and hand-grenades. Two IDF soldiers, both 20-years-old, were killed by the terrorists. This attack was carried out and spearheaded by senior members of Hamas and authorized by the party's leadership.
A 19-year old IDF soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit (right), is currently listed as Missing in Action while being held captive in Gaza by Hamas. Israel has charged both Hamas and Mahmoud Abbas with responsibility for the attack and for the treatment and safe return of Cpl. Shalit.
Shalit is the first Israeli soldier to be seized by Palestinians since 1994 when a 19-year-old Israeli-American was abducted. At the time, Israeli commandos stormed the safe house where the soldier was held, but he died in the raid along with three of his kidnappers.
While fleeing from the site of the attack, the terrorists placed an explosive device adjacent to the Telem Matmon outpost. The device was detonated when an IDF force, responding to the attack, reached the outpost. Three soldiers were injured.
Despite Israel's full disengagement from Gaza and the redeployment of the IDF entirely outside of Gaza, Palestinian terrorists continue to target Israelis. These attacks clearly demonstrate that rather than striving for reaching a period of calm and quiet that would benefit the civilian populations of both sides, the terrorists are further escalating the violence. Since its election to power, rather than act to implement its obligations to enforce quiet along the border, the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority has done nothing to prevent terrorist attacks upon Israel, thus placing the onus upon the IDF to take the necessary defensive measures for the protection of Israelis.
UPDATE 06/26 @ 14:24: Here is an audio update of the situation by Steven Erlanger of the New York Times. Despite his description of the attack as "daring," it's an interesting listen from a reporter embedded in the region. He expects significant action in the next 12-24 hours.
UPDATE 06/26 @ 15:00: Via Barry Schweid at AP:
The Bush administration called Monday for the release of an abducted Israeli soldier and urged Israel and the Palestinians to exercise restraint amid growing tensions in Gaza.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke over the weekend with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, while American diplomats conferred with Egyptian, Israeli and Palestinian officials.
"There are a lot of different parties working to resolve the issue," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "But the bottom line is we call upon this individual to be released immediately."
UPDATE 06/26 @ 15:26: Here's the blow-by-blow from the State Department:
Q Do you have any comment on the growing tensions in the Gaza Strip area, particularly following the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier? And also the Israelis have said that reprisals could include a reinvasion of Gaza. I wondered what the U.S. response --
MR. MCCORMACK: Well, first of all, what we would -- we would urge the immediate release of this IDF soldier who was taken in an incident that we condemn, and what we would urge is that all sides exercise restraint and avoid steps which further escalate the situation. As we have said all along, it is the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority government to stop all acts of violence.
For our part, we have been in touch with a number of different interested parties in the region to try to resolve the situation. Secretary Rice over the weekend spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni, she spoke with President Abbas. Our ambassadors in Egypt and Israel have been in contact with government officials. Our counsel general in Jerusalem, Jake Wallace, has been in touch with President Abbas's office on the matter. So there are a lot of different parties working to resolve the issue. But the bottom line, we call upon this individual to be released immediately.
Q And what's your view of Israel's threat to reinvade Gaza if it's not resolved?
MR. MCCORMACK: I would just reiterate what I said before. We urge both sides to exercise restraint and avoid steps which further escalate the situation.
Yes, Elise?
Q Can you expand on the conversations that the secretary had with Foreign Minister Livni and President Abbas? I mean, obviously to exercise restraint. But particularly on the Palestinian side, did she put any pressure on President Abbas to use his influence to help get -- secure the release of this soldier?
MR. MCCORMACK: I wouldn't characterize it as pressure. I think President Abbas wants to see this individual released. And certainly the secretary reinforced that idea as well.
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