{{date|November 18, 2004}}
[[Image:Gz-map.png|thumb|right|The Gaza Strip]]
GAZA - The [[w:Israeli Defense Force|Israeli Army]] is believed to have killed three [[w:Egypt|Egyptian]] soldiers in a border incident. The shootings occurred near the [[w:Philadelphi Route|Philadelphi Route]] on the [[w:Gaza|Gaza]]-[[w:Egypt|Egypt]] border. Both nations patrol the area intensively for [[w:arms smuggling|arms smuggling]] into Gaza.

An Israeli tank apparently mistook Egyptian troops for smugglers.

Foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev has apologized for the incident, saying: "If Egyptians were hit then we regret it. This was not our intention. We want good co-operative relations with Egypt ... and if Egyptians were hurt then our thoughts go out to them and their families and the Egyptian people."

Israel has said it is investigating the shootings "at the most senior level." Egypt has said little so far.

==Sources==
#[http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=IZX52ZUC24RQACRBAEZSFFA?type=topNews&storyID=6849002 Report: Israeli Tank Kills 3 Egyptian Troops]. ''[[w:Reuters|Reuters]]'', 18 November 2004
#[http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=584045 Israelis gun down Egyptian soldiers in border blunder]. ''[[w:Associated Press|Associated Press]]'' via ''[[w:Telegraph UK|Telegraph UK]]'', 18 November 2004.
#[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4021461.stm Israeli forces kill Egypt troops]. ''[[w:BBC Online|BBC Online]]'', 18 November 2004
#[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/503304.html IDF tank mistakenly kills 3 Egyptian troops near Rafah]. ''[[w:Haaretz|Haaretz]]'', 18 November 2004

 

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[[Category:November 18, 2004]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Israel]]
[[Category:Egypt]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]

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The Gaza Strip
GAZA - The Israeli Army is believed to have killed three Egyptian soldiers in a border incident. The shootings occurred near the Philadelphi Route on the Gaza-Egypt border. Both nations patrol the area intensively for arms smuggling into Gaza.

An Israeli tank apparently mistook Egyptian troops for smugglers.

Foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev has apologized for the incident, saying: "If Egyptians were hit then we regret it. This was not our intention. We want good co-operative relations with Egypt ... and if Egyptians were hurt then our thoughts go out to them and their families and the Egyptian people."

Israel has said it is investigating the shootings "at the most senior level." Egypt has said little so far.