Israeli army wounds three Palestinian farmers in Gaza with artillery fire

The Israeli army on Wednesday wounded three farmers working near the Gaza-Israel border fence in the east of the besieged coastal enclave, Palestinian medical and security sources said.

Israeli artillery targeted about six military outposts belonging to Hamas, the security sources said.

The shelling came after a Palestinian sniper shot an Israeli soldier stationed near the fence.

Avichai Adraei, the Israeli army spokesman, said in a press statement that the Israeli army attacked some Hamas outposts in response to the targeting of the soldier.

The soldier suffered minor injuries to his leg and was transferred to an Israeli hospital for medical treatment, Adraei said.

Palestinian farmers told The New Arab that the Israeli army asked them to leave their farms close to the fence until further notice.

The incident coincides with a series of military drills conducted by Palestinian factions, during which missiles are usually launched towards the sea.