Abbas condemns Gaza Strip raid
Friday, 14 January 2005 18:20The new Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, has condemned an attack overnight in the Gaza Strip, saying it did not 'contribute to the peace process.'
Three Palestinian gunmen attacked the Israeli crossing checkpoint at Karni, killing six Israelis and planting 100 kg of explosives at the terminal's entrance before being killed themselves.
All border crossing passages between Israel and the Gaza Strip are to remain closed until further notice.
The Karni crossing was closed immediately after the attack. The main crossing at Erez, north of the Palestinian territory, was ordered shut later, and Rafah, in the south, was sealed off after another attack five weeks ago.
Five other workers at the Karni crossing point were injured in this morning's attack. Two of them were seriously hurt.
The Israeli army said the attack began when a lorry loaded with explosives was crashed into a wall, demolishing part of it.
Three suicide bombers then ran through the gap, firing weapons and throwing explosives. Israeli guards returned the fire, killing all three.
Three militant groups, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs, the Popular Resistance Committees and Hamas, have said they carried out the attack in a joint operation.
