[Tuesday, January 21, 2014] An explosive charge detonated nearly 200 meters east of the Gaza border fence, on a border road used by the Israeli military, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.The Ma’an News Agency has reported that a loud explosion was heard in an area located between the Kissufim military base and a border area east of Al-Qarara town, of Khan Younis.
Ma’an added that several Israeli military vehicles rushed to the site of the explosion and conducted military searched in the area.
The Israeli army confirmed the explosion, and said that the explosive charge detonated as soldiers were conducting ‘routine activities” along the border area.
The army said that the explosion did not lead to any casualties or damage.
In related news, Israeli media sources said that three shells were fired from Gaza into the Eshkol Regional Council, in the western Negev, causing no damage or injuries.
A senior political leader of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza said that Egyptian officials contacted officials of the movement, in addition to Hamas officials, in an effort to prevent escalation in the region.
The official stated that Israel contacted Egyptian officials, informing them that Israel would resort to further escalation against Gaza “should armed groups fail to halt the firing of shells.”
Leaders of both movements said that they are committed to the truce despite confrontations which occur from time to time, and that they are not interested in escalation.
On Sunday, January 19 2014, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a motorcycle travelling in the Jabalia town, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, seriously wounding Ahmad Sa’ad, 22, and a child identified as Salah Fareed, 11. A nearby house, and two buses, were also damaged due to the blast.
Sa’ad is a member of the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad. The attack led to retaliation from a number of armed resistance groups in Gaza.
