GAZA - An Islamic suicide motorist blew himself up near an Israeli Army checkpoint last night, the first of several "human bombs" Palestinian militants have vowed to unleash to avenge the killing of an 11-year-old boy.
The Army said no one else was hurt in the Gaza Strip blast 1.5km from the Kissufim crossing to Israel. The Islamic militant wing Hamas claimed responsibility in a statement received by Reuters. In a separate incident, an Israeli Army officer died of wounds sustained in a roadside bomb attack near Hebron in the West Bank.
Earlier yesterday, Hamas promised to send 10 suicide bombers against Israel to avenge the Army's killing of Khalil Mughrabi in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Palestinians said the boy was throwing stones at soldiers who opened fire. But the Army said its troops had responded at the time to hand grenades, fire bombs and gunfire at a military post.
Last night, Hamas' military wing identified the bearded suicide bomber and published his photo in a statement saying it was "responding to the assassination and the killing of children."
Eighteen Palestinians, one of them the suicide bomber, and 10 Israelis have been killed since a ceasefire drawn up by United States CIA Director George Tenet was to have taken effect on June 13.
Meanwhile, backed by hundreds of Israeli troops, bulldozers yesterday razed eight Palestinian homes in Jerusalem in what appeared to be one of the largest demolition campaigns in recent years.
In all, 25 homeowners in the Shuafat refugee camp on the outskirts of Jerusalem said they were given demolition notices for having built without permits.
City officials have said they enforce the law evenly on Arabs and Jews who build without permits. Palestinians claim it is nearly impossible for them to obtain a permit, and that Israel is using zoning regulations to keep down the Palestinian population in disputed Jerusalem, claimed as a capital by both sides.
- REUTERS
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Militant first in fresh wave of suicide bombers in Middle East
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