Israeli man shot dead on Egyptian border

Possible cross-border gunfire incident is being investigated by the authorities following death of Israeli citizen doing maintenance work on border fence which separates the Jewish state from the restive Egyptian Sinai

File photo of 150 mile-long Israeli-Egyptian border fence in the Sinai, re-enforced for extra security in 2011 (AFP/Getty Images)

An Israeli citizen has reportedly been killed by gunfire near the Egyptian border, an Israeli Defence Force (IDF) spokesperson has said.

The private contractor employee was carryingout out maintenance work on behalf of the Defence Ministry on the border fence near Mount Harif on the southern border in the Sinai when he was shot on Tuesday.

The man was evacuated to hospital in Beer Sheva by helicopter but died of his wounds shortly afterwards. An investigation into the shooting has been launched, the IDF said.

Egyptian security officials said that the man may have died as a result of crossfire between Egyptian border police and a drug smuggler nearby, rather than in a deliberate attack.

Israel began construction of a giant security barrier along the 150 mile (240 kilometre) border following the political unrest which has troubled Egypt since 2011. The Sinai desert in particular has become a breeding ground for violent extremism, including groups such as Isis.

The latest violent incident follows a gunfight in February 2015, when two smugglers were killed during an battle with Israeli troops on the border.

In September 2012 an Israeli soldier was shot and killed when Egyptian militants opened fire on a group doing construction work, and in March of the same year, two smugglers - one Israeli and one Egyptian - were killed nearby.