Trigger-happy
\nTLTP
\nTEL AVIV
\nAn Israeli tank operator has \u201caccidentally\u201d fired a shell into Gaza, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said, noting it would launch a probe into the incident, the second mishap involving \u201cunauthorised\u201d tank fire in a matter of weeks.
\nThe inadvertent shelling came during a mission \u201cto increase operational employment\u201d near the Palestinian enclave on Monday, the Israel Defence Forces said in a statement, adding that \u201cthe incident is being investigated.\u201d
\nThe munition struck an \u201cabandoned structure\u201d and inflicted no casualties, according to a local report.
\nAn unconfirmed image circulated on social media by a photojournalist in Gaza, Ahmed Al-Maqadma, showed a dilapidated structure with a square hole punched in its wall alongside a small pile of rubble. Al-Maqadma noted the building was an \u201cabandoned house\u201d east of Juhr al-Dik, a small village in central Gaza.
\nThe bombing comes less than a month after another \u201cmisunderstanding\u201d near the Gaza border on November 21, which saw an IDF tank open fire on a \u201cHamas observation post\u201d without authorization. The military said the illicit shelling was the result of miscommunication \u201cbetween commanders on the radio,\u201d adding at the time that the shelling would be investigated. No casualties were reported in the earlier incident.
\nHamas, too, has reported an accidental weapons discharge in recent weeks, with an equipment malfunction triggering rocket fire in mid-November. The IDF ultimately concluded the incident was a mistake caused by lightning and extreme weather conditions, coupled with faulty rocket launchers.
\nTel Aviv routinely carries out what it deems retaliatory operations in Gaza, including air and ground raids, in response to projectiles fired from the enclave. The vast majority of the rocket attacks are intercepted by Israel\u2019s missile-defense system, the Iron Dome, before they can reach a target.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Trigger-happy TLTP TEL AVIV An Israeli tank operator has \u201caccidentally\u201d fired a shell into Gaza, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said, noting it would launch a probe into the incident, the second mishap involving \u201cunauthorised\u201d tank fire in a matter of weeks. The inadvertent shelling came during a mission \u201cto increase operational employment\u201d near the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-162270","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n