IDF observers identified several Palestinian suspects in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday afternoon as they approached the Yellow Line and managed to steal iron pipes. The information was quickly relayed to a force operating in the area, which deployed a drone toward the suspects, but the attempt was unsuccessful, and the Palestinians escaped unharmed.
The Palestinians did not cross the Yellow Line, but they did manage to steal the pipes a short distance away, a security official familiar with the details of the incident said.
An investigation conducted in the field described the incident as "not good," as commanders on the ground said the IDF's response time should have been faster and concerns were raised over Hamas potentially testing IDF troops' alertness.
Commanders in the sector were concerned that the pipes could have provided both an opportunity to test IDF response time and to locate raw materials for manufacturing rockets.
Following the incident, procedures in the area were clarified.
However, the security official said the incident was unrelated to the rules of engagement, as there is no lack of clarity among forces on the ground regarding the removal of an immediate threat and the handling of unusual incidents.
The official also stressed that the incident occurred three kilometers from the Israeli border.
Security, readiness around engineering work along Yellow Line to be strengthened
Following the incident, the decision was made to strengthen security and readiness around the engineering work the IDF is carrying out along the Yellow Line.
According to the security official, additional underground infrastructure has been uncovered in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, and the IDF is preparing to destroy it.
At the same time, the Defense Ministry and the IDF's Technology and Logistics Directorate are reinforcing security measures at military posts and along the Yellow Line.
Last week, Walla reported that the IDF's hands are tied when it comes to carrying out targeted killings under instructions from the political echelon.
However, an official and authorized political source told Walla that, over the past week, the IDF had not submitted any request to carry out a targeted killing in the Gaza Strip.