Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

     GAZA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Saturday claimed responsibility for last night's shelling of an Israeli army base near the Gaza Strip where at least six soldiers were wounded.

    "At 21:00 Friday, our holy fighters fired three heavy mortar shells at Nahal Oz military base in eastern Gaza city," Hamas' armed wing, Ezz el-Deen al-Qassam, said in a statement sent to the press.

    Hamas said it delayed the announcement of responsibility "due to security concerns and to maintain the safety of our holy fighters."

    After the first attack, the statement said seven missiles were fired into Israeli posts in northern Gaza Strip and that the shelling lasted until midnight.

    The soldiers in Nahal Oz base take control of security at the nearby crossing through it fuel shipments to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip are delivered.

    Israel has been closing Gaza Strip crossings since Nov. 4 after its soldiers and Hamas fighters engaged each other in southeast Gaza, rocking a June ceasefire. Israel allowed limited humanitarian aid and diesel to the only power station in Gaza three times in 24 days of near total closure.