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Three Israeli soldiers were shot dead by Egyptian police officers in a shootout in the border area. Photo/IDF Spokespersons Unit
TEL AVIV – Egypt and Israel will hold an emergency security meeting after the cross-border firefight last Saturday.
The plan for an emergency security meeting between the two countries was reported by the Egyptian media, Egypt Independent, Monday (5/6/2023), without specifying the date.
In a shootout last week, three Israeli soldiers were shot dead by Egyptian police officers. The police officer also died.
The gun battle broke out after the reported Egyptian police officers crossed the border into southern Israel.
The fourth Israeli soldier who was involved in the exchange of fire suffered minor injuries.
The incident occurred in the vicinity of the Nitzana border crossing, which is located about 40 km southeast of the point where Israel’s borders with Egypt and the besieged Gaza Strip meet.
“At dawn on Saturday, one of the security personnel in charge of securing international borders pursued the drug smugglers, and during the chase, the security personnel breached the security barrier and exchanged fire,” the Egyptian military said in a statement.
“This led to the death of three Israeli security personnel and wounding of two others, in addition to the death of one Egyptian security personnel during the exchange of fire,” the statement continued.
“All search, inspection and containment actions are underway in the area, as well as taking legal action regarding the incident.”