Suicide blasts shake Israel

What remains of the Israeli army post at Netzarim

Three people have been killed and at least 12 injured in two separate suicide bomb attacks against Israelis.

Israeli police said the three dead were the bombers.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that despite the attacks Israel would maintain a unilateral ceasefire for "a few more days" to give the Palestinians time to order a ceasefire.

"The Palestinians are behind terror activity, and they must order a ceasefire," he said.

We send our best regards to our brothers in Hezbollah

Hamas militant group

Mr Sharon was speaking in Jerusalem following the latest suicide attack, which took place in the northern Israeli town of Hadera.

A car pulled up beside a public bus at the town's main bus station and exploded shortly before 1400 (1100 GMT).

Two people in the car were killed and police said another 12 people were injured. Media reports put the number of casualties at about 30, including many treated for shock.

"I heard an enormous explosion, and then I saw the burning car," a passer-by, Avi Yehezkel, told Israel TV.

Gaza explosion

Earlier, a lorry laden with explosives blew up near an Israeli military post at the Netzarim junction south of Gaza city.

The driver of the lorry was killed, but no-one else was hurt.

The Islamic militant group Hamas said it had carried out the bombing to mark the first anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon after a 22-year occupation.

Hamas identified the dead truck driver as Hussein Nasser. The group said it had filmed the attack and would distribute the footage.

"We send our best regards to our brothers in Hezbollah, and we renew our congratulations on the first anniversary of the liberation," Hamas said in a leaflet distributed in the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli army spokesman said the incident began when Israeli army vehicles blocked the Netzarim junction to Palestinian traffic to enable Israeli vehicles to pass.

"Suddenly the driver accelerated towards the post, the soldiers fired warning shots at him and the vehicle blew up," he said.

Israeli response

Soon afterwards, Israeli forces entered Palestinian controlled areas of the Gaza Strip.

Violence has raged in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

Tanks, bulldozers and armoured vehicles entered Palestinian territory in two areas - near Netzarim and near the Karni crossing between Gaza and Israel, Palestinian police said.

"Israeli tanks opened fire, lightly wounding three policemen, and advanced some 500 metres," police chief Saeb el Ajeez told the AFP news agency.

The Israeli army maintains it has been respecting a ceasefire in the territories since Tuesday evening, when troops were ordered not to shoot at Palestinians unless they themselves were under fire and Israeli lives were at risk. The Palestinians have dismissed the ceasefire as a publicity stunt.

The blasts are the latest in a spate of attacks. A week ago a suicide bomber in the town of Netanya killed five Israelis.

In a separate development, the burnt body of an Israeli civilian, missing since Wednesday, was found near the autonomous Palestinian town of Tulkarm in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army said.