A Golani soldier managed to single-handedly foil an attempt to kidnap him during operations in the Gaza Strip overnight Sunday, Israel Radio reported.
IDF soldiers enter the Gaza Strip from Israel on a combat mission.
Photo: AP
Soldiers from the IDF's Golani infantry brigade were fighting in the northern part of the Gaza Strip when they entered a house on which they had previous intelligence indicating that the building was used as a Hamas command center.
Upon entering the house, the soldiers discovered entrances to several tunnels, which the Hamas terrorists holed up in the house had used to escape underground to neighboring homes. According to the report, the terrorists were shooting into the building when the soldiers entered.
One of the soldiers reportedly followed the gunmen into a tunnel and managed to contain several Hamas fighters in an underground firefight before teaming up with his comrades again. Two IAF helicopters were scrambled to support the infantrymen, Israel Radio said.
The military assessed that the Palestinian terrorists were trying to lure the soldier into the tunnel alone in an effort to kidnap him.
In related news, the IDF dismissed Hamas claims that the group had succeeded in kidnapping two soldiers. A statement by the IDF spokesman said the army does not comment on "rumors and mendacious reports" issued by Hamas, and emphasized that if Hamas were to kidnap a soldier, the army would break the news to the public in a proper and timely manner.
