IDF officer Lt.-Colonel ‘M’ was killed in a Special Forces operation in the heart of Gaza during the night. His name is not released due to the fact that he was a member of a special undercover force and the revelation of his identity would assist terrorists in identifying others in the unit. Another officer sustained moderate injures during the operation and following emergency surgery during the night, he is listed in stable condition this morning.

As reported earlier on YWN, an IDF force entered Gaza, in a civilian vehicle according to unofficial sources, operating in the Khan Yunis area. According to reports, the force eliminated Hamas commander Nour Baraka during the operation. It is assumed that he was the intended target, as he was the Gaza Brigade commander.

As a result of the incident exchanges of gunfire between the force and terrorists, the air force was dispatched to the area to provide cover to assist the operation on the ground and to facilitate the force in exiting Gaza and returning home. The wounded were evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva.

The media in Gaza reported that seven Gazans were killed, including a “senior member of Hamas’ military wing”. According to KAN Bet military correspondent Carmella Menashe, this was the type of operation that we were not supposed to know about, explaining the force was to enter Gaza, eliminate the target(s) and exit, without any media reports. Sadly, things went sour and the operation have been revealed, along with its tragic outcome. Menashe explains the operation was well-planned and it included preparing for an array of possibilities, adding the force commanded by Lt.-Colonel ‘M’ performed heroically under the harshest of situations, quoting the IDF spokesman unit.

At the same time, Red Alert were heard in communities in Eshkol and S’dot Negev regional councils. Seventeen rockets were launched into Israeli territory, three of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome system.

Residents of Eshkol and S’dot Negev regional councils were called to stay close to protected areas. At the same time, the section of the train between Ashkelon and Beersheva, including the Sderot, Netivot and Ofakim stations remain closed until further notice. All schools in Gaza border communities are to remain closed today, Monday, 4 Kislev, as well. This includes kindergartens and daycare centers as well. Gatherings are limited to 300 or fewer persons as per the IDF Homefront Command orders of the day.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman was briefed by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu curtailed his official visit to Paris and has returned home to discuss the most recent escalation in cross-border warfare and rocket fire into Israel, this time with a fatality and injuries. Lieberman held another briefing this morning, including Eizenkott, the head of the Shin Bet and other senior officials.

According to an Arab twitter account, the photo below is the remains of the vehicle used by the force, which was destroyed by the IAF from the air. The force was reportedly rescued by the IAF. This is not being verified by any official source.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)