Gaza Strip: IDF kills terrorist 'couple'

Man, woman approach IDF troops holding hands, then open fire; explosive device found on woman.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
IDF gaza fence 224.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
IDF gaza fence 224.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
Two armed Palestinians, a man and a woman, were shot and killed by IDF troops on Monday afternoon after they approached the soldiers near the Erez Crossing and started shooting, the army said. The IDF found additional ammunition at the scene, including an explosive device on the woman. Soldiers said the two were holding hands, apparently pretending to be a couple. Palestinian sources named the woman as Usma Abu Fanuna, of the Nuseirat refugee camp. No casualties were reported among the soldiers. According to the IDF, female bombers were responsible for the deaths of up to 37 Israeli civilians through the seven years of the Second Intifada. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the Erez Crossing incident, saying the woman died after she decided to detonate the explosives rather than be killed by the soldiers.