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Egypt Resumes Sending Fedayeen into Israel; Two Killed, One Captured

November 26, 1958
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Egyptian intelligence agents have resumed operations in Israel and have sent fedayeen units across the border, it was revealed here today by Bamachaneh, weekly newspaper published by the Israel Army. It is believed that the recent smashing of an Egyptian-controlled spy ring in Israel has forced Arab intelligence officers to turn once again to fedayeen groups for reconnaissance inside Israel.

In its report, Bamachaneh revealed that several days ago, during, army exercises, an Israeli army platoon observed suspicious movements in the vicinity of a cave in the maneuver area. A lieutenant approaching the opening of the cave was greeted by a submachine gun blast. He responded with hand grenades which brought out one live Arab and accounted for two corpse.

The Arab scout who was taken alive had a record of a previous arrest inside Israel. One of the two men killed was a notorious commando leader who escaped from the Gaza Strip ahead of Israeli units during the Sinai campaign, but who returned there after the Israelis withdrew.

The commando captured alive, who had served a ten-month prison term for his last excursion into Israel and who later returned to Gaza, told his Israeli captors that the fedayeen unit’s instructions were “not to kill” but to gather information about military movements. The three men were equipped with submachine guns and guide books on Israel.

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