Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the recent crossfire incident near the border with Egypt was an exception and will not impact ongoing security cooperation between the two nations. The statement was made in a letter to his cabinet members.
The Israel Broadcasting Corporation reported that Netanyahu is receiving security briefings on the said incident. Official military spokesperson for the Armed Forces, Colonel Gharib Abdelhafiz Gharib, stated that an Egyptian security member, tasked with securing the international border line, pursued drug smugglers earlier this Saturday, June 3, 2023.
The military spokesperson clarified in a recent statement that during the chase, the security officer breached the security barrier, leading to a crossfire that resulted in the death of three Israeli security personnel, and the injury of two others. The Egyptian security officer was also killed during the exchange of fire.
The spokesperson affirmed that comprehensive measures for search, investigation, and securing the area are underway, as well as necessary legal actions regarding the incident. He offered his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.
