GAZA CITY, Dec 18 (AFP) - A Palestian suicide bomber blew himself up near a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip late Tuesday, causing six casualties apart from himself, Israel's Channel 10 television reported.
The Islamic radical group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack at a highway intersection close to the Gush Katif settlement bloc. It named the bomber as Omar Salman Tabesh, 21, from nearby Khan Yunis.
The television said the Palestinian blew himself up in a building where he was taken to be searched by soldiers. He was killed, while most of the six Israeli casualties were lightly hurt.
It was not immediately clear if any of the victims were fatalities, or if they were soldiers or settlers. The television said they had all been evacuated from the scene by helicopter.
The attack took place barely two hours after Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas arrived in Gaza for a showdown meeting with militant groups to try to persuade them to halt anti-Israeli attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, meanwhile, paid a surprise visit to Gaza for a briefing with army commanders. He made clear that he expected to see prompt action from Abbas to halt rocket fire into southern Israel.
"Abu Mazen (Abbas) doesn't need a period of adjustment; it's not like he doesn't know what's happening in the field. He knows the commanders and he knows the people," said Sharon.
01/18/2005 17:57 GMT - AFP