Three Israeli civilians cross into Gaza Strip, returned to Israeli territory by IDF

IDF soldiers who operated in the area were dispatched to the scene and returned the civilians to Israeli territory. 

 View of cars destroyed by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 massacre and the Erez border crossing at the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, January 4, 2024. (photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
View of cars destroyed by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 massacre and the Erez border crossing at the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, January 4, 2024.
(photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Three Israeli civilians crossed the border from Israeli territory into the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the military said.

IDF soldiers who operated in the area were dispatched to the scene and returned the civilians to Israeli territory. 

A similar incident occurred in August of last year, when approximately 40 people attempted to break into the Gaza Strip through the Erez crossing, Israeli state broadcaster KAN reported. 

An indictment was filed with the Ashkelon Magistrate's Court against seven defendants - six adults and one minor - for unlawfully entering the Erez crossing area and refusing to cooperate with security forces' orders, the State Attorney's Office announced in early March. 

Additional incidents of illegal crossings 

The indictment says that on February 29, 2024, approximately 100 people gathered near the train station in Sderot and proceeded together toward the Erez crossing, which had been closed since the start of the Israel-Hamas War.

 Israeli soldiers at the Erez Crossing at the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, December 12, 2023. (credit: CHAIM GOLDBEG/FLASH90)
Israeli soldiers at the Erez Crossing at the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, December 12, 2023. (credit: CHAIM GOLDBEG/FLASH90)

The defendants were among that crowd of people and part of the 20 or so individuals who crossed the concrete barrier and entered Gaza.