In an unfortunate incident at the Egyptian border station near Kerem Shalom, Israeli tank rounds struck one of the watchtowers, injuring Egyptian border guards. The incident took place on Sunday and occurred amid Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas. Although the injuries were described as minor by Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman Colonel Gharib Abdel-Hafez Gharib, the exact number of wounded border guards was not disclosed.
Following the incident, Colonel Gharib announced that the Israeli side immediately expressed its regret over the unintentional incident. He stated, “It occurred, and the circumstances of the incident are being investigated.” Similarly, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement expressing their sorrow regarding the incident. According to the IDF statement, the tank accidentally fired and hit an Egyptian post in the border area, and an investigation is currently underway.
The mishap took place the day after Egypt opened its border crossing with Gaza to allow humanitarian aid to be transported to the besieged Palestinians. However, out of the approximately 200 aid trucks that had been waiting for days, only 20 were reportedly allowed to enter Gaza on Saturday. Another convoy of 14 trucks passed through the Rafah border crossing into Gaza on Sunday.
In the meantime, the IDF continued to carry out airstrikes against Hamas targets in Gaza as part of their preparations for a planned ground offensive. This is in response to the surprise attacks carried out by the Islamist group against Israel earlier this month. Since the conflict began on October 7, the death toll has risen to over 4,700 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.
The incident at the Egyptian border station highlights the fragile situation in the region and the potential for unintended consequences in the ongoing conflict. Both Egypt and Israel expressed regret over the incident and are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding it.
In conclusion, the unintentional firing of an Israeli tank round that struck an Egyptian watchtower and injured border guards near the Kerem Shalom border station serves as a reminder of the high tensions and risks involved in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The incident occurred as Egypt opened its border crossing with Gaza to allow humanitarian aid, further underscoring the challenges faced in providing assistance to the besieged Palestinians. As the conflict continues, both sides express their regret and are committed to investigating the incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The death toll continues to rise, emphasizing the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the escalating violence in the region.
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