Just a week after an Iranian-built drone penetrated Israeli air space and was shot down, followed by an IAF retaliation against Iranian targets in Syria and the latter downing an F-16i a powerful explosive device was detonated against soldiers who were trying to remove a Palestinian flag from the Gaza border fence.

Golani Brigade and Combat Engineers were operating along the fence, and the latter checked for an explosive device but failed to detect the powerful bomb. The blast left three Golani soldiers and an officer injured, two in serious condition and two moderate. They were transported to the trauma unit of Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva.

It became clear that a protest along the fence on Friday was a cover for terrorists who planted the bomb where the flag, realizing soldiers would be sent to remove the flag. It is not being reported at this time how the device was detonated, possibly by cellular telephone.

The explosion, which took place at about 3:30PM on Shabbos afternoon, was followed by rocket fire from Gaza during the evening and nighttime hours.

First retaliation came from tank fire:

The immediate retaliation from the IDF came in the form of tank fire, which took out a Hamas observation tower used to spy on IDF troops movements.

No fatalities or serious Injuries B’chasdei Hashem as a rocket slams into a home:

These attacks continued during the night as well, with a home sustaining a direct his in once case. B’chasdei Hashem, there were no injuries or fatalities, however, a number of persons were transported to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon for treatment of hysteria, due to the rocket fire and explosions.

The Israel Air Force retaliated during the night:

Clearly the tank fire earlier in the day was not going to be Israel’s entire response and the air force during the night struck 18 terrorist objectives in Gaza. Fighter planes targeted the Hamas objectives while Red Alert warnings were being heard in southern Israeli communities.

Update from Soroka Hospital on the condition of the wounded soldiers:

The Soroka Hospital Spokesman’s Office on Sunday morning 3 Adar reported all of the wounded soldiers were operated on during the night. All four sustained an array of injuries that required intervention by orthopedics, plastic, vascular surgeons, optical and other specials. Two remain in serious/stable condition and they are in a intensive care unit. The condition of the other two was upgraded to light Baruch Hashem.

The following additional update was provided by senior ICU physician Dr. Uri Gelenta during the early afternoon hours Sunday. “The soldier suffers from a severe hand injury and other injuries to his extremities. He underwent surgery during the night. After the surgery he was transferred to an intensive care unit

His condition stabilized, he regained consciousness and is breathing on his own.”

Another victim, also arriving in serious condition, is intubated and connected to a respirator and remains in the general intensive care unit. Two others remains in moderate condition.

At the request of the family that lives in Jerusalem and his father who serves as a doctor at Hadassah, he was transferred from Soroka.

Another seriously injured, breathing and anesthetized, is hospitalized in a general intensive care unit and two others in moderate condition.

PM Netanyahu responds:

In his brief message from Munich, where he is on an official state visit, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated, “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.”

Photos:

The photos show explosions in Gaza from the IAF retaliatory raid as well as the home struck by a rocket.

Children playing on a large mound of dirt, one of the remains of one of the objectives hit by the IAF.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/Photo Credit: IDF Spokesman Unit)