Al-Qassam Brigades, Islamic Hamas movement's armed wing claimed responsibility on Saturday for attacking Israeli soldiers at the crossing of Kerem Shalom in southern Gaza Strip.

The group said in a leaflet that one of its militants was killed and three were wounded in an armed attack at Kerem Shalom crossing on the border between southern Gaza Strip and Israel.

It said that its militants detonated a booby trapped car during the attack and exchanged fire with Israeli soldiers at the crossing, adding that one of its militants was killed and three others were wounded.

The group also said that the gun battle between the militants and Israeli soldiers at the crossing area lasted for about two hours, claiming that Hamas militants wounded at least six Israeli soldiers.

Earlier on Saturday morning, an Islamic Hamas movement's militant was killed and two were wounded as an Israeli aircraft struck a group of militants east of Gaza City, medics and witnesses said.

Mo'aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency and ambulance services in the Palestinian Health Ministry said that Ihab Abu Amro, 21, was killed and two others wounded in an Israeli airstrike on Sheja 'eya neighborhood east of Gaza.

Al-Qassam Brigades said in a leaflet that its militants and Israeli soldiers exchanged fire in the neighborhood, adding that several Israeli tanks and armored vehicles stormed the area.

The group said that during the clashes, Hamas militants fired 45 mortar shells and several grenades at the Israeli army forces, adding that the militants' strikes prevented the army vehicles to advance more into the area.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2008)