Gaza crossings rocked by gunbattle, suicide blast

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Two suicide bombers died when their explosives-laden truck detonated Thursday near a border crossing in northern Gaza, the Israeli military said.

No one was injured on the Israeli side of the border, according to Israel Defense Forces, but a number of buildings sustained major damage near the Erez Crossing.

The truck blew up about 165 feet (50 meters) from the border crossing terminal, which Israeli soldiers man.

Israeli aircraft struck a car that also was involved in the attack. The vehicle was used to pick up two other militants who had been riding in the truck, the Israeli military said.

At least one of the bombers was a Palestinian militant from Islamic Jihad, according to sources with the group. Islamic Jihad and Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack, the sources said.

Later Thursday, Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen exchanged fire at a Hamas-organized demonstration on the Gaza-Israel border.

Palestinian sources said the violence left a 17-year-old Palestinian dead and 10 people wounded. The Israeli military confirmed the exchange of fire but had no details on casualties.

A military spokeswoman said armed Palestinians, including some with anti-tank missiles, were among the hundreds of demonstrators at Karni Crossing, east of Gaza City. Nearly 1,500 people participated, Palestinian sources said.

They were protesting the Israeli blockade, imposed earlier this year in response to rocket attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants.

Human rights groups accuse Israel of collectively punishing the people of Gaza along with its Hamas leadership by reducing the amount of fuel and electricity it sends to Gaza.

But Israel maintains the fuel supplies are enough to "answer the vital humanitarian needs ... for this time."

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