Golani soldier escapes hijacking attempt
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST Jan. 5, 2009
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A Golani soldier managed to single handedly foil an attempt to kidnap him
during nocturnal operations in the Gaza Strip Sunday overnight, Israel Radio
reported.

Soldiers from the IDF's Golani infantry brigade were fighting in the
northern part of the Gaza Strip when they entered a house on which they had
previous intelligence it was used as a Hamas command center.

Upon entering the house, the soldiers discovered entrances to several
tunnels; the Hamas terrorists holed in the house used these to escape
underground to neighboring houses and were shooting into the building where
the unit entered.

One of the soldiers followed the gunmen into a tunnel and managed to contain
several Hamas fighters in a firefight while underground inside the tunnel,
before teaming up with his comrades again. Two IAF helicopters were
scrambled to support the infantrymen, Israel Radio reported.

The military assesses that the Palestinian terrorists were trying to lure
the soldier to go after them alone into the tunnel in an effort to kidnap
him.

In related news, the IDF dimissed Hamas claims that the group had succeeded
in kidnapping two soldiers. A statement by the IDF spokesperson said the
army does not comment on "rumors and mendacious reports" issued by Hamas,
and emphasized that if an incident of Hamas kidnapping a soldier would
occur, it would break the news to the public in a proper and timely manner.