Bomb kills Israeli soldiers in Gaza

A roadside bomb exploded next to an Israeli tank in the Gaza Strip today, killing all four soldiers inside, the military said.

The attack, near the town of Beit Lahia, took place this morning but the Israeli authorities delayed publication for nearly 10 hours until relatives had been informed.

The military said the explosion detonated the tank’s fuel and ammunition, killing its entire crew.

Izzedine al-Qassam, the military wing of the Islamic militant group Hamas, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement faxed to news agencies. It said the bombing was in revenge for the deaths of two Hamas activists who were killed near Beit Lahia in a clash with Israeli troops earlier this week.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip said they saw black smoke rising from the tank. Soldiers with hoses tried to douse the flames, as Israeli helicopters hovered above to help with the rescue efforts, the witnesses said.

It was the fourth fatal attack on an Israeli tank in the past year, and brought to 11 the number of soldiers killed in such incidents.

Following the blast, Israeli army bulldozers moved into the area, demolishing three houses and tearing up trees, witnesses said.

Despite the latest bloodshed, Palestinian officials said Palestinian Interior Minister Hanni el Hassan and Finance Minister Salam Fayad were expected to meet soon with Dov Weisglass, the head of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s office, for renewed talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire between the two sides.

Israeli officials could not immediately be reached for comment, but Israeli radio said the meeting would take place during the coming week.

Palestinians said other Palestinian ministers would fly to London on Monday for talks with diplomats on reform of the Palestinian administration.

Under heavy pressure from the European Union, and the other members of the so-called quartet of peacekeeping nations – the United States, Russia and the United Nations – Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat announced yesterday that he would appoint a prime minister, a step the quartet and Israel consider vital to improving the prospects for peace.

Arafat did not, however, say how much power he plans to share, who the prime minister will be or when the appointment will happen.