Israel Defence Forces confirmed today the killing of two men suspected to be smugglers in a shooting incident that involved IDF soldiers near the Israel-Egypt border, the Hareetz reported.
One of the two suspected smugglers who were gunned down today was an Israeli Arab, according to reports. They had been spotted after illegally crossing the border from Egypt into Israel. IDF soldiers had shouted a warning, ordering them to stop, before opening fire on the infiltrators and shooting the two suspects in the leg.
The suspected smugglers, alongside another suspect had attempted running back across the border into Egypt.
Two of the three suspects were killed in the ensuing gun battle with Egyptian border patrol, while the third fled into Sinai. The IDF says it is currently investigating the identities of both men, whose bodies are now with the Egyptian authorities.
One of the men is believed to be an Egyptian citizen, while the other an Israeli Arab, who Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram said died in the border town of Rafah.
Earlier this month, four smugglers were fired upon after illegally crossing the border by both Egyptian and Israeli forces patrolling the border, resulting in one death.
