Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault

In this photo released by Hamas, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006, Palestinian Fatema An-Najar is seen before carrying out a suicide bombing next to Israeli soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip . (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    GAZA, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian woman, member of al-Qassam Brigades, armed wing of Islamic Hamas, blew herself up on Thursday evening amid a group of Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza Strip and wounded four of them, Palestinian eyewitnesses and security sources reported. 

    The sources said that Fatema al-Najjar, a 55-year-old member of Hamas armed wing, carried an explosive belt and walked towards the Israeli army forces, who are operating into northern Gaza Strip, and blew herself up.

    An Israeli army spokesman confirmed that a Palestinian female suicide bomber blew herself up near an Israeli army force east of Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip, and wounded four Israeli soldiers.

    Shortly before the suicide bombing attack, three Palestinians were killed in two separate strikes in northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security sources said.

    Two militants, who were in a car travelling in northern Gaza Strip, were killed when an Israeli aircraft fired one rocket that had directly hit the car, the sources said.

    A third Palestinian was killed in Israeli artillery shelling on northern Gaza Strip.

    Palestinian medics said the death toll of Palestinians that were killed in a daylong of violence with Israelis reached to seven, including the suicide bomber woman, four militants and two civilians.