Palestinian Shot Breaching Security Fence

The youth, Samir Awad, from the village of Boudrus, had apparently not responded to warnings to turn back, a military spokesman said. The matter was reported under investigation.

The incident occurred during a violent clash in which Palestinians, who were trying to cut through the barrier, threw rocks at Israeli soldiers

The military confirmed opening fire at protesters. Capt. Eytan Buchman said troops “initiated standard rules of engagement, which included live fire.” He declined to furnish details while the investigation was ongoing.

Palestinian sources claimed that Awad was walking away from the a skirmish with IDF troops when he was shot.

Also on Tuesday, about 50 armed Palestinians burned tires to block the main road leading into the Balata refugee camp to protest repeated attempts by Palestinian security forces to disarm them.

The gunmen reportedly are linked to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement, and their recent protests have drawn attention to growing discontent with Abbas’s rule.

The Israeli military said Monday that it discovered a tunnel Hamas terrorists burrowed from Gaza at least 30 yards deep into Israeli territory. Military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich said the tunnel was dug in the direction of two Israeli communities, and the assumption was that terrorists had hoped to use it to stage an attack on civilians.

No Gaza terrorist group has claimed responsibility for digging the tunnel. Leibovich said it was discovered in the course of a routine military patrol.

This article appeared in print on page D26 of the January 16th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.