Israeli civilian and 2 ‘terrorists’ killed on Egypt-Israel border

An Israeli civilian working on the Israel-Egypt security fence was killed Monday when gunmen fired across the border, media cited the Israeli Army as saying. 

And at least two of the gunmen were killed after Israeli forces returned fire in accordance with military regulation, Bloomberg reported, citing a military spokesman.

According to the Washington Post, the attack near the community of Nitzana underscored Israeli concerns about worsening security conditions in the Sinai peninsula amid political upheaval in Egypt since last year's revolution.

The Post quoted Defense Minister Ehud Barak as saying the shooting, along with two rocket attacks in southern Israel over the weekend, indicated "a disturbing deterioration in Egyptian control of security in the Sinai."

Barak called on whomever won Egypt’s presidential election "to take responsibility for all of Egypt’s international commitments, including the peace treaty with Israel and the security arrangements in the Sinai, and to swiftly put an end to these attacks."

According to YNetNews.com, surrounding communities were placed on high alert for fear "terrorists may have infiltrated the fence," which is being built mainly to block illegal migrants.

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However, YNetNews also cited a military source as saying that the IDF had no intelligence indicating an imminent attack.

It was highly likely that the attack was launched from Gaza, the source reportedly added.

According to the Associated Press, the Israeli military carried out an air strike against suspected Palestinian militants in the northern Gaza Strip shortly after the border attack.

The AP cited Palestinian medical officials in Gaza saying two men riding a motorcycle near the border town of Beit Hanoun were killed.