Pictured Above: Palestinian protesters burn tires during a night protest near the border with Israel, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 14, 2019. Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90.

(JNS) A battle between Israeli forces and Gaza rioters left one Israeli soldier moderately wounded Sunday night, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The soldier was hit by a homemade bomb thrown by Gazans on the Gaza border at around 9 p.m., and was evacuated to Ashkelon’s Barzilai Medical Center with shrapnel wounds to the neck and severe bleeding.

Israel fought back, with 19 rioters injured, including one who sustained a head wound, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

According to reports out of Gaza, the rioters almost breached Israel’s security fence, but were pushed by Israeli gunfire and the firing of Israeli tank shells at a Hamas position near the border.

As part of the riots, Arabs threw explosives and rocks, and burned tires. The battle followed the injuring of an undercover police officer two days ago in a major border riot.

Israel’s Military Intelligence unit warned last Wednesday that Hamas may be gearing up to start a war with Israel as a way of drawing international attention and funds to the region.

Earlier in February, Israel announced the near-completion of a 40-mile, 20-foot high galvanized steel fence, which will also extend underground and prevent terrorists from infiltrating Israel from beneath the ground as well as from above.

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