JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli civilian trying to enter the Gaza Strip by climbing a border fence was shot and killed by Israeli guards.
The man attempted to cross into Gaza near the main Erez crossing at about 2 a.m. Monday. He died in the hospital of the gunshot wounds. Israeli citizens are banned from entering Gaza.
Border guards "identified a man running towards the crossing and trying to climb the security fence," he Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. "They called on him to stop and fired warning shots in the air. When he did not heed their calls they fired towards his lower body."
Police sappers were called to make sure the man was not carrying explosives.
It is not known why the man, said to be in his 30s, attempted to get into Gaza. The statement said the man, an Israeli citizen, reportedly was mentally ill.
