After endangering the lives of IDF soldiers to extricate Fatah terrorists from Hamas gunfire in the Sajayieh area of Gaza, the decision has been made to expel them and send them back to Gaza.

According to officials statements released on Sunday morning, the 188 Fatah terrorists permitted into Israel following the Hamas attack against Fatah in Gaza on Saturday will be expelled from Israel, sent back to Gaza. 68 of the Fatah terrorists have already been returned to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom Crossing.

In a turn of events, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) during the night contacted Defense Minister Ehud Barak, requesting the Fatah members from Gaza not be permitted into Yehuda and Shomron. According to MDA Emergency Medical Service officials, 16 of them were transported to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon and Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva, with three listed as serious and the remainder light.

According to Colonel Ron Ashrov, who heads the northern Gaza battalion, at about 4:00PM on Shabbos afternoon, Fatah terrorists, some wounded, began making their way near the border fence and the decision was made to assist them. The soldiers came under fire and the rescue mission lasted until about 9:00PM. According to the colonel there were 180 in total, including 22 who were injured.

Ashrov stated while soldiers were not inside the Hamas-controlled area per se, they were indeed under heavy fire during what he labeled the “humanitarian mission”.  He added that stringent security inspections were conducted on every person.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)