An Israel army patrol inadvertently killed ore Israeli civilian and wounded another in the Gaza Strip today, apparently having mistaken them for terrorists. A soldier was also wounded, reportedly by a richocheting bullet.
The shooting occurred near Beth Lahiya in the northern end of the Gaza Strip. The two civilians were inspectors of the Israel Nature Preserves Authority who were riding in a jeep carrying arms to shoot stray dogs to prevent rabies.
One inspector was killed instantly when the patrol opened fire and the other suffered a shoulder wound. It was uncertain who fired the bullet that struck the soldier. The names of the victims were not immediately released.
The army and the Nature Preserves Authority are investigating the incident to determine whether the civilians had received advance warning. The nature authority is responsible to the civilian administration in the territory and its activities are reported to the civilian government, not the military.
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