Three Israeli soldiers and one gunman were killed near the border with Egypt on Saturday morning following a gunfight while some news reports said that the gunman was an Egyptian policeman.
A spokesperson for the Israeli occupation army said a group of smugglers had infiltrated into Israel in the Negev leading to a firefight.
The spokesperson explained that two soldiers were shot at and killed near the border early on Saturday. It said the gunman and a third Israeli soldier were killed in a confrontation on the Israeli side of the border hours later.
Egyptian sources for their part said a group of armed men possibly smugglers had opened fire at Israeli soldiers leading to an exchange of fire.
Another Israeli military spokesperson said the two soldiers had been shot at while on duty early on Saturday and their bodies were found later.
Asked about the identity of the gunman an Israeli military source told journalists that the gunman could be a border guard a smuggler or someone else affirming that it was unclear what his identity was.
