Israelis Kill 3 Egypt Troops by Mistake
JERUSALEM — The Israeli army mistakenly killed three Egyptian soldiers today along the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt, Israeli media reported.
Israeli newspapers and radio and TV stations said soldiers in an Israeli tank mistook the Egyptians for Palestinian militants.
The website of the Haaretz newspaper quoted Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim as saying Israel regretted the incident and that it was “grave in its results.”
Israel Radio reported that the army was investigating the incident at the most senior level.
The deaths could cause tension between the two former enemies, and the timing is especially sensitive because Israel plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip next year and wants Egypt to help secure the region.
The army had no immediate comment, but Israel Radio reported that the Egyptian soldiers were apparently part of a unit responsible for preventing arms and drug smuggling across the border.
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