By DPA,
Gaza : Three Palestinian militants were killed in one of the heaviest bomb attacks on Israeli soldiers at a Gaza Strip border crossing on Saturday.
Sixteen Israeli soldiers were reported injured, one seriously, in the attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza Strip, an Israeli army spokeswoman said.
The militants killed were fighters from al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas movement’s armed wing.
Also Saturday, a member of the Hamas was killed and two injured in an Israeli air attack on militants in the Gaza Strip.
The three Hamas militants had stormed the Kerem Shalom crossing after detonating two booby-trapped cars at the entrance and exchanging heavy gunfire with the Israeli soldiers.
Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas military wing, said three booby-trapped cars were used in the attack on Kerem Shalom. All three attackers had been killed.
The Israeli army spokesman said the attack was the second on the crossing in as many days. It came hours before the start of the Jewish Passover holiday Saturday night.
Israeli Radio, Arabic service initially reported that 13 Israeli soldiers had been injured and one officer was in serious condition. Israel accused Hamas of staging the attacks to increase the suffering for Gaza’s population.
Israel on Friday sealed off all Palestinian territories for about a week due to the Passover holiday, with the border closing to continue until the end of next week.