TEL AVIV — Catching Israeli forces off-guard, at least three Palestinian gunmen from Gaza Strip penetrated the border fence and a nearby gas terminal, killing two Israeli civilians in the first major cross-border attack from the coastal territory in nearly two years.
Israeli soldiers and a tank killed two of the gunmen before they could escape but at least one succeeded in returning to Gaza through the fence. Israel’s military said its aircraft fired on a getaway car inside Gaza. Palestinian reports said at least one person died in the airstrike.
The attack follows several weeks of calm along the Israeli-Gaza border. A militant spokesman told the Al Jazeera satellite channel that the purpose of the strike was to kidnap soldiers.
In June 2006, militants who infiltrated from Gaza kidnapped Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit back across the border.
The gas terminal near the infiltration site serves as Gaza’s only source of gasoline and diesel fuel.
Israel’s government blamed Hamas for the attack even though the Islamic rulers of Gaza were not among the organization which claimed responsibility.
“The fact that the terrorists in Gaza would deliberately target the fuel terminal that supplies the Gaza Strip with vital energy needs demonstrates clearly their total and complete disregard for the well being of the people of Gaza, said Mark Regev, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
The unfortunately reality is that Hamas is holding hostage both the civilian population of southern Israel and the civilian population of the Gaza Strip to its Jihadist agenda, Mr. Regev said.
Three Palestinian groups claimed responsibility, including Islamic Jihad, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committee.
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