An IDF officer was lightly injured on Thursday as a result of a shrapnel wound incurred during routine training in the south of the country.

The IDF stated that the wounded soldier is fully conscious and is being treated at a hospital.

The incident is being investigated.

The IDF provided no further details on the incident.

The AY4.2 Coronavirus (COVID-19) variant was detected in Israel, the Ministry of Health announced Tuesday.

The person infected with the virus is an 11-year-old returning from abroad, who was identified as infected at Ben Gurion Airport, and was already in quarantine.

Now no further verified contacts or cases were discovered.

The new delta variant AY.4 has a S:Y145H mutation in the spike. It currently accounts for about 80% of sequenced of cases in the United Kingdom.

In the US, the AY variants are listed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as variants of concern.

Israel is currently emerging from its fourth COVID-19 wave, with its eye on a possible fifth wave in the winter.

A man was killed Tuesday morning when he fell from a hot air balloon flying in the north of the country.

The police stated that it received a report about a man in his 20s who apparently fell from a hot air balloon and as a result was killed on Route 60 near Balfouria.

Police officers arrived at the scene and launched an investigation into the circumstances of the case.

The victim was a crew member who for some unknown reason hanged on to the balloon during takeoff and fell from a height onto the road.

The police blocked the road in both directions for a period of time.

Israel’s leadership expressed shock and sorrow following the murder of British Member of Parliament Sir David Amess.

Ali Harbi Ali, a 25-year-old Briton from Somalia, stabbed and murdered Amess on Saturday. British authorities are treating the incident as an act of terrorism.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett sent his “heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of British MP Sir David Amess. He was a true friend of the Jewish community and the State of Israel. His tragic loss will be felt by many.”

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he was “deeply shocked to hear of the horrific slaying of David Amess. A true friend of the State of Israel and the Jewish People, he was cut down while serving the constituency which he loved so much.”

“We grieve with the people of Britain over the tragic loss of a great parliamentarian and a great friend,” he added.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid sent his “deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Sir David Amess. He always stood with the Jewish community and was a true friend of Israel.”

Knesset Speaker Mickey states he was “deeply shocked by the dreadful murder of Sir David Amess MP. Sir Amess was a great friend of Israel and a valued member of the UK-Israel Parliamentary Friendship group, who will surely be missed by all. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and constituents.”

“A murder of a democratically elected representative is a crime against all freedom-loving nations. We stand together with House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle in defense of our shared values and send a clear message that hatred, radicalization and terrorism will not prevail,” he said.

An Arab terrorist throwing rocks at Israeli cars in the Benjamin region was shot and injured by IDF troops on Tuesday night.

The IDF stated that its soldiers identified a number of suspects who threw rocks at Israeli vehicles driving on Road 55 near the Arab village of Azzun and endangered the passengers.

The soldiers, “who were in a secret ambush at the point, acted to thwart the danger,” shooting hitting one of the stone-throwers.

The soldiers provided the terrorist with primary medical care on the spot, arrested him, and transferred him for further medical care.