A suspected Palestinian sniper attack in the Gaza Strip forced Israel's new defence minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, to take cover during a visit to an Israeli military observation post today.
In television footage, the sound of a gunshot rang out as Mr Ben-Eliezer and Israeli army Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz, accompanied by officers, observed Palestinian areas from the rooftop of an Israeli brigade headquarters.
Mr Mofaz and the officers immediately crouched, while Mr Ben-Eliezer's bodyguards threw their arms around him and hustled him to the side.
Israeli Army Radio said a sniper had fired one shot at Mr Ben-Eliezer on the roof and another as he was coming down.
But an Israeli army statement later said it appeared Mr Ben-Eliezer had not been the target.
After looking into the matter, it appears the shot that was heard during the defence minister's visit to the Gaza brigade headquarters was aimed at a nearby base and had no connection with his visit in the area, the statement said.