And militants fired four rockets from Gaza on southern Israel without causing any casualties or damage, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP.
"A soldier was severely wounded during a routine patrol along the fence in the Kissufim area," a military spokeswoman said of the bombing which occurred shortly before 0700 (0500 GMT).
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for laying an explosive device which wounded an "officer in the Givati brigade," it said in a statement.
Military officials were initially unsure what had caused the explosion, but eventually established it was "an explosive device." Hamas security officials said the explosion occurred as troops were mounting an incursion into Gaza territory.
"The IDF (army) will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians, and will operate against anyone who uses terror against the state of Israel," a military statement warned. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again warned he would strike back at Gaza militants, which he said were supported by Tehran.
"Today we engaged in exchanges against terrorist aggression that comes from our southern border in Gaza, but it actually comes from Iran and a whole terror network that is supporting these attacks," said Netanyahu. "The way to fight terror is to fight terror, and that we shall do with great force."
Defence Minister Ehud Barak noted the explosive device was rigged to a gate on the fence, and said Israel takes the attack "very seriously." "The Israeli army will react to this in the right way and at the right time," he said during a tour outside Jerusalem of the Israeli-US missile defence exercise named Austere Challenge 12.
The latest incidents on Tuesday came as the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, made a landmark visit to Gaza where he inaugurated a multi-million dollar project to rebuild the impoverished Palestinian territory.
Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge
For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.
We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.
Go to: http://www.inet.co.za
