Three IDF Soldiers Killed In Gaza - Friendly Fire

What a terrible loss for the brave IDF, folks. Haaretz here has the details of this tragic development just a bit ago in northern Gaza. Three soldiers were killed, with 20 wounded, one critically when an Israeli tank's errant shell pounded a building with IDF soldiers operating inside. Here's some of the breaking news:

Three Israel Defense Forces soldiers from the Golani brigade were killed and about 20 others wounded, one critically, after an errant IDF tank shell hit a building in which they were operating.

IDF battalion commander Colonel Avi Peled was lightly wounded in the incident, but refused to be taken for treatment. Instead, Peled directed the evacuation of all the wounded troops and called in artillery fire and IAF air strikes on enemy targets before evacuating himself from the scene.

There's also word of a major firefight that has waged inside of Gaza between IDF and Hamas:

The major firefight started at around 6:30 P.M. Monday in the Sajaiyeh neighborhood in east Gaza City. According to preliminary information gathered by the IDF, Hamas attacked with mortar shells that exploded near the troops. Troops then apparently took shelter behind the wall of a building, after which a large explosion took place. Hamas responded with additional mortar fire. In one of the strikes, near the border, two Israelis were wounded, one of them moderately. Sajaiyeh, together with its adjacent neighborhoods, has been considered a Hamas stronghold for several years. Sources in the IDF said the advance of the forces into the Strip forced the rocket-launching teams to retreat somewhat, with Sajaiyeh identified as main launch location. Practically no launches were seen from areas in which the IDF had taken control.

Let's all pray for these brave heroes who sacrificed their very being for the good of their people and the fight against evil. May there families somehow find peace at this tragic time.

Three IDF soldiers killed, one critically wounded in Gaza blast

Three Israel Defense Forces soldiers from the Golani brigade were killed and about 20 others wounded, one critically, after an errant IDF tank shell hit a building in which they were operating. The fire incident is the most grave so far for IDF troops in 10 days of Operation Cast Lead.

Still, over 40 Qassam and Grad rockets were fired Monday from Gaza at southern Israel striking Ashkelon, Ashdod, Sderot, Kiryat Malakhi, near Ofakim, Netivot and Be'er Sheva. Hamas also fired rockets at the area between Ashdod and Gedera. A number of people in Sderot were treated for shock, and in Ashdod a rocket nearly destroyed a kindergarten. Inside Gaza, eight soldiers were slightly injured in other incidents in the Strip yesterday. Over the past two days there have been at least two cases in which soldiers have been injured in 'friendly fire,' one by machine gun fire and one during the detonation of an explosive device. Monday was the third day of the ground phase of Cast Lead. Sources in the General Staff said the day was spent 'expanding and deepening' control by forces on the ground. The IDF is now surrounding Gaza on the three land sides and maintaining a sea blockade. The Gaza Strip has also been sliced in two in the area where the Israeli settlement of Netzarim once stood. IDF troops are going out on ambushes and attacks known as 'response-stimulating' operations. The General Staff estimated 100 Palestinians were killed Monday in five battles at various locations around the Strip. However, it appears that a large number of the dead were civilians.