Gaza sealed off as suicide bomber kills four

Israel shut down the Gaza Strip today after a Palestinian bomber killed four Israelis at a Gaza crossing – the first time the Islamic Hamas group had sent a woman on a suicide mission.

The bomber, Reem Raiyshi, 22, a mother of two small children, was escorted into a room to be checked after telling soldiers she had a metal plate in her leg that set off the metal detector. Once inside, she blew herself up.

The aftermath of yesterday’s attack meant further hardships for Palestinians. The impoverished Gaza Strip depends on jobs in Israel for much of its income, and in a routine security move, Israel closed the crossing after the attack, turning workers away, and also shutting down the Erez industrial park where 6,000 Palestinians work.

Defence minister Shaul Mofaz imposed a one-day closure on the Gaza Strip, the army said, adding that only humanitarian cases would be allowed to pass through.

Brig Gen Gadi Shamni, the Israeli military commander in Gaza, indicated that Israel would hit back. “I imagine that we will know how to respond at the time, place and method of our choosing,” he told Israel TV.

Two of the dead were Israeli immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

Police Staff Sgt Vladimir Trostinsky, 22, moved to Israel with his mother and younger brother seven years ago, Channel Two TV reported. He had recently returned to a combat unit after an illness.

Cpl Andrei Kegeles, 19, also in Israel for seven years, was drafted into the army four months ago. Speaking Russian, his father told Channel Two TV that Kegeles was expected home yesterday for a short leave. They said he had insisted on serving in a front-line army unit.

The other dead soldier was Staff Sgt Tzur Or, 20. The name of the security guard was not immediately released.

The army said four of the seven wounded in the attack were Palestinians.

There was widespread speculation that one of the Hamas goals in the attack was to focus blame on Israel by increasing hardships in Gaza. Last night, Palestinian militants fired two mortar rounds at the empty industrial park, but they fell short.

Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qureia declined to condemn the bombing, saying that continued Israeli attacks and restrictions on the Palestinians were leading “to more escalation on both sides”.

The Erez crossing is routinely closed after Palestinian terror attacks. After the midmorning Wednesday bombing, workers trying to enter Israel were turned back.

The bombing was jointly claimed by Hamas and the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement. Before the attack Raiyshi made a video standing in front of two Hamas flags.

In the video, Raiyshi wears the traditional hijab covering for women, holds an assault rifle and stands before two green Hamas flags.

“I always wanted to be the first woman to carry out a martyr attack, where parts of my body can fly all over. That is the only wish I can ask God for,” she said with a smile.

Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin said the use of a woman bomber was unique for the Islamic group, but holy war “is an obligation of all Muslims, men and women”.