Suicide bombers, 2 cops killed in Gaza attacks

An Israeli military army vehicle drives in front of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah Friday. More than 10 Israeli army jeeps and armored vehicles surrounded the Ramallah headquarters blocking the compound, known in Arabic as the 'Mukataa', the main entrance as well as southern and western access.. PHOTO: AFP

One vehicle apparently blew up prematurely near the Palestinian police checkpoint at the crossing while the other managed to get as far as the Israeli position before exploding, but caused no casualties apart from the driver, the official said.

The two vehicles used were "jeeps made up to look like Israeli military jeeps with Israeli army number plates," the official, who declined to be identified, said.

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He said that Palestinian policemen and civilians were among the wounded.

Israeli troops opened fire after the explosions, witnesses said.

Israeli military sources confirmed the first explosion near the Palestinian position, but said that in the second case the driver abandoned his vehicle and opened fire on the Israeli troops, who shot him dead.

Anonymous calls to journalists in Gaza City said the attacks were a joint operation by the military wings of the Islamist Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a group linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas had vowed to avenge six of their militants killed in Israeli helicopter strikes in the Gaza Strip on February 28 and March 3 respectively.

All crossing points between Israel and the Palestinian territories have been closed since late Thursday for fear of attacks during the Jewish Purim festival being celebrated Sunday and Monday.

On February 26 an Israeli soldier was killed at the Erez crossing in a gun battle with two Palestinian militants, who were also slain.

That attack was claimed by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

On January 15 a Palestinian mother-of-two blew herself up at the crossing, killing four Israelis in the first such suicide operation by Hamas involving a woman.