Car bomb explodes near Israeli bus station

A suspected car bomb has exploded near the main bus station in the central Israeli town of Hadera.

Initial reports say it is a suicide attack and the bomber has died.

Fourteen Israelis are said to be injured.

It is the second suicide attack on Israeli targets today.

Earlier an attack on an Israeli army post in Gaza was foiled when a truck was destroyed before reaching its target.

Islamic militant group Hamas said the attack marked the anniversary of Israel's troop withdrawal from Lebanon. Hamas said the driver was killed and identified him as Hussein Nasser. There were no casualties among Israeli troops.

The army sealed off the area around the Netzarim junction, along Gaza's main north-south road.

The Israeli army said the incident began when Israeli army vehicles blocked the Netzarim junction to Palestinian traffic to enable Israeli vehicles to pass. The truck drove around the Israeli roadblock, made a turn and headed at high speed down the access road to the Jewish settlement of Netzarim, the army said.

Troops fired at the truck, which exploded several yards from the gate of the heavily fortified Netzarim army post, the army said. After the blast, Palestinian police fired from a nearby position at the Israeli soldiers, the army said.

Palestinian officials said that in response to the blast, Israeli tanks shelled a nearby Palestinian police station, and that three officers were injured by shrapnel. In eight months of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, the Netzarim junction has been a frequent flashpoint.