(UPDATED ARTICLE) Three IDF soldiers were killed in what appears to have been a well-planned ambush near Kibbutz Be’eri in the Western Negev region on Wednesday morning. Three others were wounded, two moderately. They were transported to the trauma unit of Beersheva’s Soroka Medical Center.

The Givati Brigade Tzabar Battalion soldiers detected the gunmen near the border fence, compelling them to enter Gaza to engage them. They walked into a well-planned ambush, and were attacked with automatic weapons, bomb explosions and rocket fire. Two soldiers were killed immediately and one wounded. Soroka traumatologist Dr. Gadi Shaked told reporters the first wounded arrived at 8am, and one of the soldiers, in critical condition, was pronounced dead en route to the operating room.

The name of one of the fallen soldiers has been cleared for release, Corporal Matan Ovadati, 19, of Moshav Patish. Corporal Ovadati, in keeping with military custom was posthumously promoted a rank, to sergeant. He will be laid to rest today, Wednesday, at 18:30, in Ofakim.

A senior unnamed IDF officer assigned to Southern Command was quoted by the daily Haaretz as stating an investigation is underway to determine why reinforcements did not arrive for the advancing team and to determine if they chose the correct path to advance into Gaza to engage the terrorists. The officer added no can expect 100% from soldiers, stating the force made the correct decision to engage the terrorists who generally place explosives along the border.

Elsewhere in Gaza, near Gaza City, not far from the Nachal Oz fuel depot, Hamas sources reported forces eliminated four terrorists – adding there are an unspecified number of injured terrorists in numerous clashes with Israeli forces in Gaza.

As a result of the bloody morning of fighting, Israel announced it would not resume the delivery of fuel to Gaza as was intended today, a week after the terror attack at the Nachal Oz fuel depot which claimed the lives of two Israelis. The fighting compelled Israel to reverse the decision made earlier by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who planned to resume fuel deliveries for electricity but not for automobiles.

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Office, in a separate IDF activity overnight IDF forces operated against terrorist infrastructure near the security fence in northern Gaza. In one incident, terrorists opened fire at IDF forces from within a mosque used for storing a large amount of explosive substances and explosive devices. The use of mosques for terrorist activity demonstrates how terrorist organizations use holy sites, civilian centers and buildings to carry out attacks, exploiting the uninvolved PA civilians.

During the activity, one IDF soldier was moderately wounded by gunfire and was transferred to a hospital for medical treatment. IDF forces identified hitting 10 armed gunmen during exchanges of fire that included a number of aerial attacks. In addition, a number of mortar shells and anti-tank missiles were fired at the forces.

In a media statement the IDF said: “The IDF will continue to operate in the Gaza Strip in order to distance the terrorist organizations, particularly Hamas, from the security fence. Israel and the IDF will not tolerate the threat on the Israeli civilian population in the western Negev and on the home front.”

In the meantime, Hashem is looking out for Sderot area residents. Since the morning hours, 12 Kassam rockets have hit the region. There are no reports of fatalities or injuries. Elsewhere, in Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha, one home was hit by mortar fire earlier in the day. Damage was reported but Baruch Hashem, no injuries.

Rockets continue to fall and tensions are running high as Pesach approaches, with Yomim Tovim always resulting in heightened alert status to prevent terror attacks. This in addition to travel advisories and intelligence community concerns regarding Jewish and Israeli institutions and shuls around the world.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)