An Israeli paratrooper has revealed to the Israeli newspaper Maariv the details of a gun battle between his unit and Al-Qassam fighters in Khan Younis during the latest 51-day Israeli war on Gaza Strip.
Israeli paratrooper Matania Magouri told the newspaper that a large number of his unit were wounded, including the Reconnaissance Battalion commander in the Hagai Ben-Ari Brigade when they were ambushed on the fourth day of the ground operation.
Maariv reported Magouri saying that a group of paratroopers entered a three-story house in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, and were surprised when they faced a group of armed militants.
According to Magouri, the militants were also surprised to be face to face with the paratroopers, a fierce gun battle erupted and the large group of the paratroopers fled, moving to the streets adjacent to the house.
All the paratroopers, according to Magouri, took to the ground because of the hand grenades thrown at them and a large number of them, including Ben-Ari, were wounded.
Ben-Ari sustained serious wounds in the head, Magouri said, as a bullet penetrated his helmet, entered from one side of his head and exited from the other. He was transferred to hospital.
As the paratroopers were on the ground, two of the militants jumped towards them, Magouri, who was wounded in his arm, shot and killed them. He was later given the appreciation and courage insignia.
Magouri recognised that the armed militants showered them with live bullets and hand grenades from a very close range.
Several ground battles took place between Israeli troops and Al-Qassam fighters during the war and Al-Qassam militants surprised the Israeli troops as were involved in these gun battles from a short distance away.
Israeli forces killed more than 2,260 Palestinians and wounded around 11,000 others during the war, which started on 7 July and ended on 26 August 2014. Most of the casualties among the Palestinians were civilians.
Some 74 Israelis were killed, including 69 soldiers killed in battle.
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