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A Palestinian rescue worker inspecting the wreckage of a vehicle hit by an Israeli missile in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Saturday. (Reuters)
Last update - 17:00 20/04/2008
Barak: Hamas will pay for attack on Gaza border crossing
By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Kerem Shalom, Gaza, bomb, IDF

Defense Minister Ehud Barak told senior officers at the Israel Defense Forces Gaza Division Saturday that Hamas will pay for the attack on the Kerem Shalom Crossing earlier in the day which left more than a dozen soldiers injured.

Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi visited the division and were briefed on the military's activity following the attack on the Gaza crossing earlier in the day.

Two explosive-laden vehicles disguised as military jeeps exploded at the Kerem Shalom crossing on the Israel-Gaza Strip border on Saturday morning, leaving 13 Israel Defense Forces soldiers hurt - one soldier sustained moderate to serious wounds, two were moderately hurt and the remaining 10 suffered minor wounds.
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Eight soldiers were taken to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva and the rest were treated at the scene.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the incident, which the IDF called the militant group's most ambitious attempted attack on Israel since Israel's disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2005. The goal of the attack appeared to be heavy IDF casualties and the abduction of a soldier.

An attempted attack on Kerem Shalom this past Thursday, according to IDF sources, was likely to have been an intelligence-gathering mission in preparation for Saturday's attack, which was planned to coincide with the Passover holiday that began Saturday.

Three cars, two of which were disguised as IDF vehicles, approached the Kerem Shalom crossing at roughly 6 A.M., under cover of dozens of mortar shells fired on the crossing and heavy fog. An armored vehicle managed to rip a hole through the crossing's fence, allowing the two other cars - both Jeeps - to enter the crossing.

Both Jeeps were detonated inside the crossing, one quite close to a group of soldiers. Four militants were killed - one in each of the explosions and two militants in the armored vehicle.

At roughly the same time, an IDF missile struck an armored vehicle approaching the Gaza border south of Kissufim. The vehicle was hit, resulting in a large explosion, suggesting a substantial quantity of explosives in the vehicle. It was not immediately clear how many Palestinian casualties were caused.

IDF sources suspect Hamas had planned a large-scale attack on several points on the Gaza border, and that the Kerem Shalom bomb and the second vehicle were synchronized.

The IDF said a suspicious vehicle was hit near Kerem Shalom. Witnesses say the target was a jeep parked near the Rafah crossing with Egypt.

The IDF sources said that the alertness of the soldiers stationed at Kerem Shalom prevented a much more violent incident, and maybe even an abduction attempt.

The crossing is used for agricultural produce and to send humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Immediately following the attack, the IDF instructed residents of nearby communities to stay in their homes as soldiers conducted searches on both sides of the Gaza border, fearing one or two militants had escaped the scene.

Palestinian residents near the Kerem Shalom crossing said they heard shooting from IDF tanks and helicopters in the area.

The crossing, which is usually staffed by the Airports Authority, had been closed ahead of the holiday, and was under guard by a private security firm.

Attempts at attacking the crossings along on the border were on the rise this week, as were threats by Palestinian militant groups to breach the border in protest of Israeli sanctions on the coastal territory.

The IDF on Thursday thwarted an attempted terror attack on Kerem Shalom. Gunmen opened fire on the Israeli side of the crossing, but a patrol of Givati Brigade soldiers located nearby fired back, killing one gunman and wounding another.

Also on Thursday, Palestinians fired on Israeli fuel trucks at the Nahal Oz terminal bringing kerosene to the Gaza Strip. No injuries or damage were reported. Two Israeli civilians were killed in a shooting attack at Nahal Oz last week.

In Gaza City, a Hamas leader, Sami Abu Zuhri, said Hamas would carry out more attacks on crossings to break the nearly yearlong blockade of the territory.

"These operations are the beginning of the explosions that Hamas has warned of," said Abu Zuhri. "If the parties don't intervene quickly to save Gaza and break the siege, what is coming will be greater."

Dozens of Hamas supporters later took part in anti-Israel demonstrations near the Erez and Karni crossings. No violence was reported.

Alongside the attacks, Hamas claims it's ready to reach a truce with Israel on the Gaza border, and Egypt has tried to broker such a deal. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has been meeting with Hamas leaders in recent days in the West Bank and Syria to hear from the militant group.

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  • Israel strikes Gaza after 3 soldiers killed, 3 wounded in Hamas ambush
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      1.   Hamas wants a war 08:37  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/04/08
      2.   Olmert Folly 08:56  |  Ron 19/04/08
      3.   More Good Work by Carter 08:58  |  Ron 19/04/08
      4.   #1, Cipora...doubtful... 09:14  |  Silvienne 19/04/08
      5.   The battle isn`t over 09:15  |  Observor 19/04/08
      6.   Palestinine wants peace 09:30  |  firas 19/04/08
      7.   and they want Israel to open the crossings and let this criminals 09:37  |  Daniel Leopold 19/04/08
      8.   HAMAS Spokesman says: An IDF officer has been killed 09:44  |  Alaqsa TV 19/04/08
      9.   #6 HAMAS willn`t talk with children Killers 09:49  |  Palestinian 19/04/08
      10.   Are we afraid of HAMAS? 09:53  |  Shlomo 19/04/08
      11.   firas... 09:56  |  Linichka 19/04/08
      12.   #4, Silvienne 10:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/04/08
      13.   Unfortunately firas I think Cipora is all too right 10:20  |  MaryRose 19/04/08
      14.   #6, firas 10:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/04/08
      15.   Hamas using same tactics as in Iraq 10:40  |  Joey 19/04/08
      16.   How long is Israel going to condone Olmert`s inadequacy 10:43  |  Joseph 19/04/08
      17.   more to come...just wait 10:50  |  dawood 19/04/08
      18.   #5 Observor 10:54  |  Futuvan Cur 19/04/08
      19.   Hamas are careful, skilful planners 10:55  |  Clickfool 19/04/08
      20.   Quick, Shlomo in Tel Aviv # 10 10:58  |  Clickfool 19/04/08
      21.   Short-term goals... 11:02  |  Esther 19/04/08
      22.   You have a poor memory, Mary Rose # 13 11:04  |  Clickfool 19/04/08
      23.   Landmines and defoliant 11:15  |  Oleh 19/04/08
      24.   Firas #6 you are misinformed - hamas dosn`t want peace 11:18  |  Johnny 19/04/08
      25.   Highlights from islamic hamas charter, read their own words #1 11:19  |  Johnny 19/04/08
      26.   #17 Dawood 11:19  |  Igor 19/04/08
      27.   Highlights from islamic hamas charter, read their own words #2 11:20  |  Johnny 19/04/08
      28.   Highlights from islamic hamas charter, read their own words #3 11:20  |  Johnny 19/04/08
      29.   Highlights from islamic hamas charter, read their own words #4 11:21  |  Johnny 19/04/08
      30.   Highlights from islamic hamas charter, read their own words #5 11:21  |  Johnny 19/04/08
      31.   Highlights from islamic hamas charter, read their own words #6 11:22  |  Johnny 19/04/08
      32.   #4 Silvienne - "Why would Hamas want a war?" 11:48  |  Rafi 19/04/08
      33.   Hamas is right to force the issue 11:56  |  Natallie Durson 19/04/08
      34.   Hamas does not care about the people of Gaza 12:11  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/04/08
      35.   Military action against Hamas. 12:32  |  Jean Van Daem 19/04/08
      36.   Since when was Hamas 12:32  |  Linichka 19/04/08
      37.   #4 Silvienne 12:39  |  Sarah 19/04/08
      38.   Armored vehicles? 12:45  |  MR 19/04/08
      39.   After the 60th anniversary Hamas will come to an end 12:45  |  Jeremy 19/04/08
      40.   There is no such thing as a Palestinian Arab 12:51  |  John 19/04/08
      41.   Myths of the Middle East 12:52  |  John 19/04/08
      42.   THERE IS NO PALISTINIANS THERE ARABS 12:55  |  Herman Smith 19/04/08
      43.   Need to turn Gaza into Dresden 1945 12:58  |  Moti Palm 19/04/08
      44.   Jews Are Who Were called Palistinians 13:01  |  Bert Ernie 19/04/08
      45.   mofaz as 1er minister asap 13:03  |  haim 19/04/08
      46.   #22 - And you are poorly informed Clickster 13:06  |  JES 19/04/08
      47.   Once Israels hand is finaly forced I can not wait to see 13:09  |  Joey 19/04/08
      48.   Gazan Bozos must concede defeat. 13:15  |  Akiva P 19/04/08
      49.   Blockade works 13:20  |  17 19/04/08
      50.   #19 Clickfool 13:20  |  Sarah 19/04/08
      51.   Well it got the pals no where as usual 13:41  |  Adrian de Klerk 19/04/08
      52.   A siege is when you are trying to break the defense and enter for 13:50  |  richie 19/04/08
      53.   Cipora, let me disagree with you 13:51  |  Philip 19/04/08
      54.   Dont fight on the enemy`s terms 13:53  |  arun 19/04/08
      55.   Dont fight on the enemy`s terms 13:53  |  arun 19/04/08
      56.   Silvienne......Hamas is not going to raise 13:55  |  Lynn 19/04/08
      57.   Re Bert #44 13:57  |  Esther 19/04/08
      58.   Herman Smith 13:58  |  Philip 19/04/08
      59.   Israel still refuses to hit Hamas leaders 14:02  |  SystemF 19/04/08
      60.   JES - Israel - COMPLETE misunderstanding of what happened 14:04  |  Philip 19/04/08
      61.   Palestinian Aparthied, Judenrhien 14:13  |  HonestAbe 19/04/08
      62.   This is not "terrorism", but still stupid...... 14:29  |  Swiss (Dino) 19/04/08
      63.   Israel did not accept Gaza truce offer. Israel 14:31  |  Jaffar 19/04/08
      64.   SystemF - Israel is afraid of the consequences of such actions 14:31  |  Philip 19/04/08
      65.   # 22 Clicky....Oh please!! 14:36  |  Lynn 19/04/08
      66.   hasta la victoria 14:37  |  dorra 19/04/08
      67.   This ATTRITION WAR WILL NOT WORK. 14:38  |  disraeli 19/04/08
      68.   54 arun with the Indian name wow! 14:38  |  lakshmi 19/04/08
      69.   To 60, Philip 14:38  |