Israel Defense Forces soldier on Friday opened fire on a group of armed Palestinians near the Gaza border, killing two. None of the soldiers was wounded in the incident.
Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal warned earlier Friday that should another war erupt with Israel, the majority of battles would not be contained to the Gaza Strip as they were during the conflict last winter.
Meshal told the London-based Al-Hayyat that Hamas was not interested in seeing another war, but would embark on steadfast defense of the Palestinian people should one begin.
Speaking during a visit to Russia, Meshal accused Israel of making threats of war in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.
He said the quickening tide of military threats was the result of Israel's leadership under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberma and Defense Minister Ehud Barak ? the latter to whom he referred as "the most extremist."
The Hamas leader also blamed Israel over the failure in Russian attempts to mediate between the two enemies, with regard to peace negotiations and efforts to see abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit released from Palestinian captivity.
Meshal's visit to Russia angered Israeli officials, who sent a letter of protest to Moscow over the matter.
Meanwhile, a senior defense establishment official said Friday that Israel Defense Forces soldiers have been warned to stay on high alert amid Hamas plans to abduct Israeli troops.
The Shin Bet cleared for publication on Thursday that it arrested a prominent Hamas activist in Gaza, who infiltrated into Israel with the intention to abduct an Israeli soldier, murder him, and negotiate over the body.
This was not an isolated incident, the defense official warned on Friday. "The attempt along the Egyptian border to attack and abduct, which was foiled in December, was not a one-time procedure," said the official. "The terrorist organization won't hesitate at any chance to grab another bargaining chip against Israel."
The militant arrested in December was named as Salman Abu Atik, a 43-year-old Gaza resident and a prominent Hamas official who was involved in arms smuggling in the past.
According to the Shin Bet, Atik was taking orders from another prominent Hamas man. It is believed that Atik exited Gaza through a tunnel into Egypt, where he attempted to enter Israeli territory. He was found in possession of $15,000 in counterfeit bills, a gun, and a silencer.
Following information released in Abu Atik's investigation, another Hamas man, Ibrahim Zuara, was arrested on December 31. Zuara, 44, was in possession of two explosive devices each weighing 31 kilograms.
Zuara was apparently supposed to place the devices in heavily populated areas ten days after his entrance into Israel. Zuara also confessed to his involvement in planning the soldier abduction.
The Be'er Sheva court indicted Abu Atik on the charges of attempted murder, illegal army training, arms smuggling, and additional charges.
On Feburary 2, Zuara was also indicted and charged with attempted murder, attempted kidnap, and arms smuggling among other charges.
Israel is now in the midst of indirect negotiations with Hamas to see the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who was abducted in a cross-border raid from the Gaza Strip in 2006. Despite reports of progress, the negotiations have so far not yielded results