In a shocking turn of events, an Israeli tank mistakenly targeted and struck an Egyptian post near the tense Gaza border. The Israeli military confirmed this unforeseen incident on Sunday, emphasizing that it was unintentional. Meanwhile, Egyptian military sources have indicated that the misfire caused only “minor injuries”, without offering any further details.

Immediate Reactions to the Incident:

Reiterating their regrets, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) expressed their deep sorrow regarding this unfortunate episode. A tweet from the IDF’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) elucidated, “A short while ago, an IDF tank accidentally fired and hit an Egyptian post adjacent to the border in the area of Kerem Shalom. The incident is being investigated and the details are under review.” The IDF once again expressed its sorrow regarding the incident.

On the other side, the Egyptian army relayed that Israel had swiftly conveyed its remorse over the inadvertent incident and that investigations were actively in progress.

Impact on Aid Movement to Gaza:

In the midst of this strained situation, reports from Egyptian media remain optimistic. They affirm that such an incident won’t hamper the movement of vital aid to Gaza. Eyewitness accounts highlight that since Saturday, a total of 37 trucks laden with essential supplies have successfully navigated to Gaza through its Rafah border post with Egypt. Notably, this specific border post is located a mere three kilometres (around two miles) from Israel.

However, since the war’s outbreak on October 7, crossings between Gaza and Israel have been completely sealed. The United Nations estimates that to cater to the dire needs of Gaza, a minimum of 100 trucks daily is imperative. The current conflict has already witnessed a tragic loss of life, with the Hamas government reporting over 4,650 fatalities in Gaza due to Israeli strikes. Conversely, Hamas militants’ offensives have resulted in the demise of more than 1,400 individuals in Israel.

  Egypt, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Kerem Shalom, Palestine, Rafah border