'A miracle it ended with only minor wounds': IDF soldier wounded by accidental fire from Gaza

A bullet fired from the Gaza Strip lightly wounded an IDF soldier near the Sha’ar Hanegev Junction on Sunday.

A bullet fired from Gaza hit an IDF vehicle carrying a soldier near the Sha'ar Hanegev Junction on Sunday, the IDF said.

According to preliminary information provided to the regional council, the fire was likely accidental and came from IDF troops inside Gaza. The incident resulted in only a minor injury to the soldier and slight damage to the vehicle.

The head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, Uri Epstein, responded sharply to the incident: “We view this incident with great seriousness. I spoke with the division commander a few minutes ago and demanded to receive the full results of the military investigation and to know what actions will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. I stress that there is no change to the military directives in the area—but it’s clear that an event like this cannot be allowed to happen again.”

According to Epstein, although the wound was minor, the incident highlights the fragility of the security situation on the ground.

He used the opportunity to criticize the state’s decision to lift security restrictions in the area: “The state has determined that there is no longer a security issue in returning to the border communities, but it is not here to understand the consequence of its decisions. We will not accept endangering lives in the council’s territory. We call on all security officials and decision-makers to come to the area and ensure firsthand that the safety of our residents is fully protected.”

Returning to the border communities

It is worth noting that just two weeks ago, the Israeli government approved, based on the Defense Ministry’s recommendation, the removal of security restrictions from 12 of the Gaza border communities, effective on July 1, 2025. These include Be’eri, Kfar Aza, Nirim, Nir Oz, Sufa, Netiv Ha’asara, Nir Yitzhak, Kerem Shalom, Ein Hashlosha, Nahal Oz, Kissufim, and Holit.

The decision enables the full return home of citizens and allows preparation for the upcoming school year within the communities themselves.

At the same time, the Tekuma Authority announced that reconstruction and renovation work had been completed in Kerem Shalom, Re’im, Nirim, and Ein Hashlosha. Still, many residents and local leaders in the Gaza border communities continue to express reservations about the decision, demanding assurances that the area is truly safe for permanent return.

In the meantime, the question continues to echo throughout the region: Is it really time to come home, or is the government acting too hastily in its decisions?