Lebanese TV airs footage of Gaza sniper shooting IDF officer in helmet Two weeks after company commander injured in attack, Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad confirms firing the shot

A Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese news outlet on Sunday broadcast previously unaired footage of the moment a Palestinian sniper in the Gaza Strip shot an Israeli officer in the helmet last month, causing him light injuries.

On January 22, a gunman from the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group fired at the Paratroopers Brigade company commander during a riot along the southern Gaza border. The bullet struck the officer’s helmet, which saved his life.

In the video, aired by Al-Mayadeen, the officer can be seen firing his rifle from a berm across from the Gaza border. A moment later, a gunshot is heard, and the sniper’s bullet is seen striking the serviceman’s helmet, sending up a cloud of smoke and debris. He then grabs his head and takes cover.

Speaking to the pro-Hezbollah news outlet, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad confirmed suspicions that the terror group’s military wing Saraya al-Quds was behind the attack.

The injured officer was taken to Beerhsheba’s Soroka Medical Center for treatment. A cut on his head was bandaged, and he was released hours later, the hospital said.

The attack, which came amid already heightened tensions, threatened to push Israel to another war in Gaza. The Strip’s terrorist Hamas rulers later condemned the shooting and launched an investigation to determine who was behind it.

In response to the sniper attack, an Israel Defense Forces tank immediately destroyed an observation post belonging to Hamas in eastern Gaza, near the el-Bureij refugee camp. Hours later, the Israeli Air Force targeted an additional Hamas site in the coastal enclave.

According to Hamas, one of its fighters was killed in the initial tank strike on the terror group’s position and two other members were injured, one of them seriously.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas that it would launch a military campaign unless violence along the Gaza border ends, irrespective of the upcoming April 9 election.

Earlier on Saturday, Egypt reportedly agreed to permanently reopen its border crossing with the Gaza Strip if Hamas restrains clashes with Israeli troops.

The Rafah crossing was closed in early January after the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority withdrew its employees there, then was reopened in both directions on Tuesday.

On Friday, Egypt’s offer was relayed to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh during a meeting in Gaza with Egyptian intelligence officials and UN’s Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov, according to Ynet news site.

Quoting unnamed Palestinian sources, the report said that reopening the crossing on a permanent basis was intended as a concession to Hamas to curb violent protests along the border.

For the past several months, Egypt, the UN and Qatar have worked to preserve calm in Gaza and prevent flareups between Israel and terror groups in the Strip.

Since March, Palestinians have been holding regular protests on the border. Israel has accused Gaza’s Hamas rulers of using the demonstrations as a cover for attacks on troops and attempts to breach the security fence.

Israel has demanded an end to the violent demonstrations along the border in any ceasefire agreement.

רשת אל מיאדין הלבנונית, המזוהה עם חיזבאללה מפרסמת היום (ראשון) תיעוד של אירוע הירי שהתרחש לפני כשבועיים (22 בינואר) בדרום רצועה עזה בו נפצע מ"פ צנחנים באורח קל.

בתיעוד נראה הקצין מבצע ירי לעבר מפגינים פלסטינים במהלך הפגנה אלימה, ואז מתבצע ירי שפוגע ישירות בקסדה שעל ראשו. הקצין כאמור נפצע באורח קל ופונה לבית החולים סורוקה בבאר שבע ולאחר טיפול רפואי שקיבל שוחרר עוד באותו היום לביתו.

דובר הג'יהאד האסלאמי, מוסעב אל-ברים אמר, "האויב הישראלי הוא זה שמפעיל את סוגי הטרור הגרועים ביותר נגד הפלסטינים, ולכן זו זכותנו לפעול בדרך ההתנגדות". הוא ציין כי לאירוע אין כל קשר לארגון ג'יהאד האיסלאמי אך הדגיש כי זו זכותו של העם הפלסטיני להתנגד "לטרור הישראלי", כלשונו.

מדובר צה"ל נמסר לאחר אירוע הירי בו נפצע הקצין כי, "מתחקיר ראשוני בשטח עולה כי במהלך הפרת סדר שכללה יידוי אבנים מחבל פתח באש לעבר לוחמי צה"ל. כדור פגע בקסדת קצין צה"ל שפעל בנקודה. הקצין נפצע באורח קל ופונה לקבלת טיפול רפואי בבית חולים."

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