Hamas threatens revenge after member killed at border by Israeli soldiers

Palestinian+protestors+during+clashes+with+Israeli+security+forces+on+the+Gaza+Israeli+border%2C+east+Rafah%2C+southern+Gaza+Strip%2C+on+July+20%2C+2018.+Photo+by+Abed+Rahim+Khatib%2FFlash90
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Palestinian protestors during clashes with Israeli security forces on the Gaza Israeli border, east Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on July 20, 2018. Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90

Marcy Oster
Published July 11, 2019

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli soldiers killed a member of Hamas on Thursday while shooting at a group of Palestinian men approaching the border fence.

Hamas in a statement threatened to respond, Ynet reported, saying “We will not allow this shooting to go without a response, and Israel will pay for its actions.”

The Israeli military confirmed to Haaretz that its soldiers fired on armed Palestinians who were at the border in northern Gaza in order to drive them away, but said it was not aware of anyone hit or killed. Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed the death of Mahmoud al-Adham, 28, a member of the Hamas security forces.

The border incident comes during a time of relative calm on the border following a couple weeks in which over 100 fires were sparked by incendiary balloons launched by protesters from Gaza into Israel.