An Israeli border police officer has been critically injured after he was shot in the head by a Palestinian terrorist armed with a handgun at point-blank range. The incident took place as Palestinian rioters clashed with Israeli forces at the Gaza border.

The Israeli military said in a statement that soldiers had confronted hundreds of rioters near the border fence in the northern Strip over the course of three hours on Saturday afternoon and evening.

Israeli soldiers used standard riot dispersal methods, including tear gas. They also used targeted sniper fire and Ruger bullets, a small-calibre form of live fire that is less lethal than normal rounds under certain circumstances.

“Israel Defense Force soldiers, who were prepared in advance, used riot dispersal methods, which when necessary included Ruger and sniper fire,” the army said.

The shooting took place when an Israeli soldier was standing watch at a small hole in the wall with his weapon pointing out of the hole.

A group of Palestinian men could be seen running up to and attempting to destroy his gun, hitting it with a pipe and throwing a rock at it before a gunman walked up to the whole and shoots several shots with a handgun hitting the Israeli at point-blank range.

Prior to the incident another group of Palestinians attempted to steal the gun from the Israeli.

“The soldier fought back and prevented the gun in his hands from being taken away,” the Israel Defense Forces said.

A video of the incident where rioters tried to steal his gun can be seen here:

The border officer who was shot and critically wounded has been identified as Barel Shmueli, 21, from Be’er Yaakov in central Israel, police said early Sunday.

He was shot in the head in the incident and was sent to the trauma center at Beersheba’s Soroka Medical Center for treatment and immediately underwent emergency surgery, the hospital said. Overnight his condition improved from critical to serious, and he remained in the hospital’s intensive care unit, unconscious and connected to a ventilator, a hospital spokesperson said.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz told Channel 13 news that Israel “will not accept any harm to our forces. The incidents at the fence are grave and we will respond to them.”

At least 41 rioters were injured by Israeli troops during the hostilities, two of them critically, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

The IDF said it hit four sites used by the terror group to produce and store weapons. Palestinian media reports said that the strikes targeted areas in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp in central Gaza, outside Gaza City and in southern Khan Yunis.

The military said the strikes were in response to the riots and the wounding of the Border Police officer.

“The Hamas terrorist organization continues to lead the Gaza Strip towards terror while exploiting the civilian population,” the army said in a statement.

Related Articles:

“Blamed if they do, blamed if they don’t” – the return of an age-old antisemitic trope

A medieval antisemitic trope has re-emerged to weaponize the narrative, twisting Israel’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza. Even feeding the hungry is now grounds to vilify Israel — and history warns us...

Before lecturing Israel, Labour should get Britain’s house in order

A British government minister's recent remarks telling Israel to “get its house in order” are not only ill-judged, they are hypocritical and reveal a deeper problem within the Labour...

WATCH: CUFI Washington Summit Recap

The Lord's timing in orchestrating CUFI's 20th annual Washington Summit was perfect.The leadership of CUFI UK were pleased to join with Christians from across the United States in...

Why do Christians support Israel?

It seems a growing number of 'Christian' influencers are jumping on the anti-Israel bandwagon. They are rejecting the truth of the Bible, spouting hatred against Israel, and twisting...

Labour pledged to ban Iran’s IRGC if in power – now it must act

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is not yet banned in the UK. Yet, in 2023, the Labour opposition pledged to proscribe the IRGC if it came to power. Now that Labour is in government—and...

We call upon the UK Government to officially recognise Jerusalem is Israel's capital and move its embassy to Jerusalem.

Become a member of CUFI and receive these mini-books and exclusive lapel-pin