Palestinian Islamists fired mortar shells from the Gaza Strip toward an IDF outpost, located north of the Palestinian enclave. The IDF told TV7 that the Palestinian Islamists fired a dozen shells, all of which exploded in open areas near the outpost, causing no injuries or damage. Moments after the attack, the IDF retaliated by targeting four positions of the Islamist Hamas and Islamic Jihad organizations. Palestinian sources in Gaza said that three people were lightly wounded in one of the Israeli strikes.
An IDF official told TV7 that the Palestinian mortar attack was conducted under instructions from Damascus. The official further revealed that the attack was directed toward an IDF outpost that is located near a border area that is currently undergoing construction-work on a barrier intended to thwart the Islamist organizations in Gaza from digging attack tunnels, aimed at penetrating the Jewish state.
Meanwhile, in an effort to prevent an escalation in violence, Egyptian intelligence officials are holding talks with the Islamic Jihad in Gaza and overseas. A website that is affiliated with Islamic Jihad reported that senior Egyptian officials spoke with the leadership of the Islamic Jihad, which is believed to be responsible for the mortar fire toward Israel, warning them of dire consequences if they would further escalate the situation.