The IDF has launched an investigation into the Palestinian terrorist attack on the Marganit outpost in the southern Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, in which three IDF soldiers were killed and seven others wounded, one of them seriously. The inquiry will focus on how the two Palestinian terrorists managed to infiltrate into the outpost and whether some of the Israeli casualties were a result of "friendly fire" in the resulting gun battle.

The IDF identified the victims of the attack as Major Gil Oz, 30, and Staff-Sgt. Kobi Nir, 21, both from Kfar Saba, and Sgt. Tzachi Grabli, 19, from Holon. Overnight the IDF struck Palestinian security facilities. Israel Air Force F-15 and F-16 fighter planes hit key Palestinian Authority installations in the West Bank and Gaza, and IDF armor entered Rafah in southern Gaza to destroy PA positions in retaliation for the Marganit raid and for a shooting attack which killed an Israeli husband and wife on the Modiin Highway late Saturday night.

The attack on Marganit began at about 3:00 a.m.

"The IDF is committed to investigate this event, reach conclusions [and] be prepared for a similar event." - OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Doron Almog

Saturday morning, when three Palestinians approached the Gush Katif settlement area from the direction of Khan Yunis. One of the three apparently guided the others through the barbed wire fences separating Israeli and Palestinian territories, and then returned to Khan Yunis. The other two approached the outpost, a circular hill surrounded by soil embankments, from the north.

Most of the soldiers of the Givati "Shaked" (Almond) Battalion were sleeping in fortified shelters, while two stood patrol at the outpost's entrance. When they were at a distance of about 15 meters from the guards, the terrorists opened fire and threw a number of grenades. At least one of the guards reportedly returned fire, and the other ran to alert the sleeping soldiers.

"The terrorists charged into the outpost, then split up," reported OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Doron Almog in a briefing to reporters. "One went on the eastern rampart and one to the western rampart. They threw hand grenades and opened fire," he said.

At this time, the deputy commander of the "Shaked" Battalion, Major Gil Oz, arrived at the outpost in response to reports that the electronic fence nearby had been penetrated. Along with additional soldiers who had accompanied him, Oz began an assault on the terrorist near the sleeping quarters. During a gun battle Oz was mortally wounded at close range and the first terrorist was killed. Medic Staff-Sgt. Koby Nir hurried to assist Oz, but was struck by gunfire himself and killed.

The second terrorist, on the western embankment, escaped from the outpost and IDF forces were launched in pursuit. An IDF tracker discovered footprints leading to greenhouses belonging to the nearby settlement of Bedolah. The IDF force closed in on the area. When the terrorist was spotted just after daybreak, IDF soldiers opened fire and killed him. The army rejected Palestinian charges that the man was captured and then shot.

Naif Hawatmeh's Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) claimed responsibility for the attack, apparently the organization's first involvement in the Intifada. A videotape was released, showing the attackers with Kalashnikov rifles raised above a flag of the organization. The IDF identified the terrorists as Amin Muhammad Abu Hatab, a member of the Palestinian Authority security forces, and Hisam Mossa Abu Jamus, both part of the Abu Rish clan from Khan Yunis.

However, Israeli sources expressed doubt that the DFLP acted alone. Ehud Yaari suggested on Israeli Channel Two television that the attack appeared to be a "joint production" with Fatah, with specific involvement by the Fatah's El Arish brigade that has been very active in the area, with the DFLP taking credit to shield Fatah, closely associated with Palestinian Authority Chairman Arafat from being blamed for initiating the action.

"It was a face-to-face battle, and very complex," Almog told reporters. Almog described the attack as "daring" and "unlike what we've seen in the past."

In his talk with reporters, Maj.-Gen. Almog said, "The soldiers acted according to procedure, some of them were guarding and some were sleeping, and indeed the two terrorists arrived at the post through a hidden route." He said the IDF was "committed to investigate this event, reach conclusions [and] be prepared for a similar event." He warned that he was sure there would be similar events in the future.

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