Egypt border attack ‘severe and unusual,’ will be fully probed – PM
Sgt. Lia Ben-Nun, St.-Sgt. Uri Itzhak Ilouz, St.-Sgt. Ohad Dahan laid to rest
the attack at the egyptian border early saturday morning that left three Israeli soldiers dead is “severe and unusual” and will be “fully investigated,” prime minister Benjamin netanyahu said sunday.
two soldiers were shot and killed early saturday morning, and a third soldier was killed by the same terrorist several hours later in an exchange of fire. they were identified as sgt. Lia Bennun, 19; st.-sgt. uri Itzhak Ilouz, 20; and st.-sgt. ohad dahan, 20.
“Israel passed a clear message to the egyptian government: we expect the joint investigation to be comprehensive and thorough,” netanyahu said at the weekly cabinet meeting. “this is part of the important security cooperation between us that has benefited both countries for years. we will reach the necessary conclusions regarding our activity at the southern border.”
“the fence, which was built in 2013, slowed the flood of illegal infiltrators into Israel,” he said. “But there is still smuggling, and from time to time attempts by terrorists to cross the border and harm our forces.”
“we will refresh the guidelines, the operative methods and means, to reduce the smuggling to a minimum and ensure that such tragic attacks are not repeated,” netanyahu said.
IdF chief of staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi on sunday said the results of the investigation into the attack would be ready next week.
He ordered that a comprehensive investigation into the strategy and approach regarding the defense of borders with countries that are not enemies, such as egypt, be carried out.
a senior IdF officer said Halevi had decided to turn the probe regarding the incident into a flagship investigation, walla reported.
“In the investigations, as time goes by, more painful details are revealed,” he was quoted as saying. “I would not be surprised if heads fly in southern command.”
a preliminary investigation indicated that there were gaps between standing orders and what happened on the ground at the border with egypt, he said, according to the report.
Ben-nun’s and Ilouz’s bodies were found at an IdF guard post at about 9 a.m. by members of their team who had been sent to check on their them after they failed to respond to their radios, according to a preliminary investigation. the last contact with them was made at 4:15 a.m., Kan news reported.
Following the discovery of
their bodies, reinforcements arrived and a search operation was carried out to locate the perpetrator, who was believed to have infiltrated Israel from across the border at some point during the night. During the operation, Dahan was shot and killed, and another soldier was lightly wounded.
The IDF thwarted a drug-smuggling operation in the same area as the shooting earlier on Saturday night and seized NIS 1.5 million worth of drugs. The smuggling attempt was carried out with the help of ladders, and the IDF said it was investigating the possibility that the two incidents were connected.
The attacker was a member of the Egyptian police force. A Koran was found among his possessions, which military officials said indicated a possibility of religious radicalization, KAN News reported. The attacker also had six ammunition magazines, a commando knife and food, which suggested that the attack was premeditated, the report said.
The attacker used his knife to cut through zip ties that held shut an emergency gate on the border fence, according to the preliminary investigation. He killed the two soldiers who were positioned 150 meters away without being discovered.
The funerals of the three soldiers were held Sunday afternoon.
Ben-Nun was buried in the Rishon Lezion Military Cemetery. She was promoted to the rank of sergeant after her death, the IDF said.
“She was stunning from the outside and the inside, a huge ray of sunshine, full of joy of life,” her sister, Ofir, said at the funeral. “Everyone loved her. There is no one who didn’t. We were two sisters; now I’m one. We would understand each other without speaking. She was always here for me and I for her... I want to believe that there was no mistake here. I don’t want to be angry with the army, because she loved it so much. She was at peace with what she did and was proud of it.”
Dahan was laid to rest in the military section of the cemetery in Ofakim. He was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.
Dahan’s partner, Dana Salita, paid tribute to him.
“How did you leave me?” she asked. “You promised me that you would take care of me. Why didn’t you keep the promise? Everyone who knows me knows how much I would talk about you everywhere; how proud I was of you. I know how much you were waiting for a firefight [with a terrorist], how much you wanted to protect everyone around you. I was waiting for you to call, to tell me about your heroism. You were my strength. I have no words. I came in uniform today. You always said that our uniform is a privilege.”
Ilouz was buried at the Safed Military Cemetery. He was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.
His sister, Gal, said he had had a hard time in the army but that he “sacrificed for everyone, cared about everyone.”
She spoke about the first time they had fought in their lives.
“We never fought and he came to ask for forgiveness,” she said. “My soul, I want you here. I didn’t think I would lose you. There is a crazy amount of people here, which shows how much of a hero and how loved you are.”
Ariella Marsden and Shira Silkoff contributed to this report. • tion.