Hamas militants attack Israel Gaza Strip crossing

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - Hamas militants drove bomb-laden vehicles into an Israeli border crossing on Saturday in an attack described by an Israeli commander as the most ambitious since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

At least three militants were killed and 13 Israeli soldiers wounded in the bombing at Kerem Shalom, the third major Palestinian attack in less than two weeks on Israeli border crossings used to transfer humanitarian goods and fuel to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, home to 1.5 million people.

Two other Palestinians, including a Hamas militant and a civilian, were killed in separate Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, the Islamist group said.

Israel tightened its economic and military blockade of the coastal enclave after Hamas seized control in June from secular Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israeli General Yoav Galant said the Kerem Shalom attack was the most sophisticated since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Israel, which controls Gaza's air space, coastal waters and goods crossings, has accused Iran and Syria of providing Hamas fighters with advanced training and equipment.

"There is no doubt that we have not seen such attacks since the pullout," Galant told reporters at the scene of the attack.

"It was synchronised along this stretch (of the border) in an attempt to cause mass killings, kidnap soldiers and take them out of the field into the Palestinian side using armoured vehicles," he said.

In June 2006, Gaza militants abducted an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, near the same crossing. Hamas and other militant groups want to swap him for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.