Since the early morning hours of July 19, 2006, IDF forces have been operating in the central Gaza Strip, as part of the ongoing operation in Gaza to combat terrorist threats, to stop the launching of projectile rockets into Israel and to damage the terror infrastructure in the region.
During the operation, Palestinians hurled a hand grenade and opened fire at the forces, as a result of which two IDF soldiers were moderately wounded and three soldiers were lightly wounded. The force returned fire and identified hitting two of the gunmen. The two moderately wounded soldiers were evacuated for treatment in a hospital.
In addition, the IDF carried out aerial attacks against three cells of armed gunmen and a cell carrying anti-tank missile launchers in the central Gaza Strip.
The IAF also targeted the infrastructure of a tunnel being dug towards Israel in the northern Gaza Strip.
Palestinians fired an anti-tank missile at forces operating in the central Gaza Strip. Forces returned fire and identified hitting two gunmen.
Engineering forces are operating near the fence in the area of Sufa crossing against tunnels and explosives in the area.