IDF Spokesperson's Office reveals fighting broke out in Gaza at roughly 9:30 am; efforts to find missing soldier underway.
The IDF Spokesperson's office announced Friday that at about 9:30 am, terrorists opened fire on Israeli forces in southern Gaza and preliminary information indicates that there is a concern that a soldier was kidnapped during the fighting.
An investigation is underway and at this time, the IDF maintains a high-level operational and intelligence effort to locate the soldier.
"We are continuing our activities on the ground," IDF Spokesman Peter Lerner stated. "Our initial indications suggest a soldier has been abducted by terrorists in an incident where terrorists breached the ceasefire."
The soldier's family has been notified.
Heavy fighting broke out on the outskirts of Rafah shortly after the UN and US-brokered "humanitarian ceasefire" went into effect, after a group of terrorists allegedly emerged from a tunnel and began opening heavy fire at IDF forces stationed there.
At least one report, this time from Walla! News, says that a suicide bomber detonated himself directly next to IDF forces before the fighting began, wounding several soldiers.
Intense clashes ensued; according to Palestinian media sources, thirty are killed - at least eight terrorists among them - and roughly 100 wounded.
A senior IDF commander stated on condition of anonymity that it is unclear if the missing soldier is in full health.
"We don't know whether he was wounded during the attack," he said.
Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad officials have been told by Egypt that talks for a long-term truce have been postponed.
"The Egyptians contacted the Islamic Jihad and said Israel told them that a soldier has been captured," the terror group's deputy leader Ziad al-Nakhale told AFP. "The talks have been postponed."
