Five horses laden with explosives were part of a bomb plot thwarted overnight, Israeli forces report.
Four Palestinian gunmen involved in the incident were killed and at least one of the horses also died.
An Israeli Defence Force spokesman said a group of Palestinian gunmen were involved in a gunfight with soldiers patrolling the Israeli side of the Gaza Strip's security fence, north of the Nahal Oz fuel terminal.
The 10 or so gunmen arrived near the fence with several trucks and leading five horses loaded with explosive devices.
A few gunmen were also wearing explosive belts and were seen planting explosive devices when the incident began.
Israeli forces opened fire with tank and machinegun fire, in conjunction with combat helicopters, which assisted the ground forces.
"The forces identified hitting a few of the gunmen," the spokesman said.
No injuries were reported to Israeli forces.
Reports described one dead horse and the charred remains of three trucks still in the area.
It remained uncertain today whether the horses were intended to be used in the attacks, or were being used to carry the fighters and their explosives into Israel.
Horses have never been used in Palestinian attacks, but in 2001 a booby-trapped donkey cart exploded in Gaza, and in 2003 another blew up near Bethlehem. The donkeys were the only casualties in both incidents.
Facebook
Twitter
HOME SITES 
