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Israeli ambulances wait to evacuate wounded at Karni Crossing after suicide bombing.
(Reuters/Ronen Zvulun) |
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Members of Israel's Zaka rescue unit search for body parts at the Gaza strip's Karni Crossing (Reuters) | |
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On Thursday night (January 13), shortly before the closing of the Karni Crossing, terrorists activated an explosive device on the Palestinian side of the crossing, blowing a hole in the door through which Palestinian terrorists infiltrated the Israeli side of the crossing and opened fire at Israeli civilians. As a result of the explosion and during exchanges of fire, six Israeli civilians and three Palestinian terrorists were killed, and five Israeli civilians were wounded. Hamas and the Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed joint responsiblity for the attack.
The bomb, which apparently weighed less than 100 kilograms, went off at about 10:45 PM, causing a power outage in the terminal. Armed with Kalashnikov rifles and hand grenades and wearing bullet-proof vests, the terrorists passed through the hole the bomb made in the gate to the Israeli side and opened fire. They killed Israeli truck drivers and Ports Authority employees.
Initial investigation indicates that the terrorists who carried out the attack arrived by truck and that the bomb was hidden under merchandise. The three attached the bomb to the iron gate through which goods are transferred from Israeli trucks to Palestinian ones. They apparently had false entry permits and were let in by Palestinian security guards, who gave them a perfunctory check.
The IDF recently extended the terminal's hours from 9 AM to 11 PM and was considering the Palestinians' request to leave the terminal open 24 hours a day. After the attack, the terminal was closed down, along with the Erez crossing. Both are expected to remain shut for an extended period of time.
The victims:
- Dror Gizri, 30, of Sderot
- Ibrahim Kahili, 46, of Umm al-Ghanem
- Munam Abu Sabia, 33, of Dabburiya
- Herzl Shlomo, 51, of Sderot
- Ivan Shmilov, 53, of Sderot
- Ofer Tiri, 23, of Ashkelon
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