Special report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts  

A Palestinian grave-digger prays by his friend's grave at Sheikh Redwan graveyard in Gaza City January 13, 2009. In 18 days of war, nearly 1,000 Gazans have died, many of them civilians.The big Sheikh Redwan graveyard, like others in the city of Gaza, is packed with white stone tombstones and a sign on the wall outside tells families in plain terms: "Cemetery Full". (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    GAZA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah movement said on Tuesday night that one of its militants blew himself up among a group of Israeli soldiers, killing and wounding several soldiers.

    The group said in an urgent statement sent to reporters that it claimed responsibility for the attack, adding that "the bomber and20 Israeli soldiers were killed and wounded."

    There was no immediate Israeli army response to confirm or deny the groups' report that one of its militants carried out a suicide bombing attack against a group of soldiers near the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia.

    The group said in a written leaflet sent to reporters that one of its militants blew himself up with explosives into a house full of Israeli soldiers in al-Atatra neighborhood in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia.

    "Twelve soldiers were killed and eight wounded into the house," said the leaflet, adding that "Abdel Rahman Bawadi, 22, carrying an explosive belt blew himself up into the house that was full of 18 Israeli soldiers."

    The leaflet also said that al-Aqsa Brigades fired R.B.J. bombs to target the group of soldiers, "one of our militants managed to reach the house, went inside and blew himself up killing and wounding all the soldiers inside."

    "This operation is a response to the awful crimes carried out by the Israeli army against our innocent people," said the leaflet. Israel had earlier announced that four soldiers were injured, denying that any of its soldiers were killed.

    Palestinian medical official said on Tuesday evening that the Israeli army killed 47 Palestinians and wounded more than 80 others during the 18th day of the Israeli army air and ground military offensive.

    The Palestinian ministry in the deposed government of Hamas in Gaza said in a statement sent to reporters that since the beginning of the Israeli offensive began on the enclave on Dec. 27, had reached 971 killed and 4,500 wounded.

    The statement said that among the 971 killed, there are 311 children, around half of the casualties are civilians, including men, women and children. The statement didn't give an exact figure on how many militants were killed.