A bomb was detonated against an IDF force operating along the Gaza border on Shabbos afternoon. Two soldiers were seriously injured and were undergoing surgery in Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva. Two other soldiers are in moderate condition.

The bomb detonated as they were trying to remove a flag placed on the border fence during a protest in Gaza on Friday.

This was the most serious attack since Operation Protective Edge in Gaza during the summer of 2014.

In response, the IDF said one of its tanks struck terrorist objectives in the southern Gaza Strip. Palestinian officials said the target belonged to the Islamic Jihad militant group and that there were no casualties on the Palestinian side.

Israel typically strikes Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza, for all attacks emanating from the territory, regardless of who carries them out.

The Gaza border area has generally been quiet since the 2014 war, but has seen an increase in violence since President Donald Trump’s announcement in December recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

However, any Israeli casualties could spark a fiercer Israeli response. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident “severe” and vowed to “respond accordingly.”

Later, IDF and Gaza officials reported a series of Israeli airstrikes against terror training sites and tunnels. No casualties were reported.

These are the military targets the IDF struck this evening in response to the IED attack that wounded 4 IDF soldiers along the fence in southern #Gaza pic.twitter.com/yP7AfrX6TA

— Jonathan Conricus (@LTCJonathan) February 17, 2018

PM Netanyahu on the IED that was planted on the Gaza border and wounded this evening 4 IDF soldiers:

Today's incident on the Gaza Strip border is severe. We will respond appropriately. I send my wishes for a quick recovery to the wounded soldiers. pic.twitter.com/YvcurAW1rY

— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) February 17, 2018

Hamas organizes riots and so called ‘demonstrations’ along the fence with Israel regularly. The IED that wounded 4 IDF soldiers was placed under the cover of yesterday’s riot, attached to a flag. We hold #Hamas responsible for all aggression from Gaza.

— Jonathan Conricus (@LTCJonathan) February 17, 2018

Hamas tactics of diverting attention away from own failures: 1)stage fake ‘demonstrations’ towards Israeli border 2)use kids and handicapped as pawns 3)throw grenades and bombs 4)place IEDs along fence 5)exploit in media.

— Jonathan Conricus (@LTCJonathan) February 17, 2018

Earlier today, an IED detonated near IDF troops on the security fence near the S Gaza Strip. In response, IAF fighter jets targeted 6 military targets in Gaza belonging to Hamas, including: a terror tunnel in the Zaytun area & military compounds near Deir ElBalah & Khan Yunis

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) February 17, 2018

The IDF holds Hamas accountable for this incident and its consequences. The IDF is determined to provide the civilians of Israel safety and security and will do so

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) February 17, 2018

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)