A statement released by Spokesman of the Egyptian Armed Forces Gharib Abdel-Hafez Gharib on the evening of Saturday 3 June 2023 explained the details of an exchange of fire that took place that morning on the Egyptian Israeli border.
The statement made clear that Egyptian armed personnel had been chasing drug traffickers close to the border. During the chase, an Egyptian border security personnel crossed the security barrier. The exchange of fire that was taking place left the Egyptian and three Israeli border security personnel dead, and two others injured.
All procedures to search and secure the area an are ongoing, the statement said, and legal procedures regarding the incident are being taken.
Egypt’s Defence and Military Production Minister General Mohamed Zaki offered his condolences to the families of the soldiers killed, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
In a telephone call between General Zaki and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, the two discussed measures to prevent such incidents in the future.