Israeli military begins withdrawal

As the Israeli military began withdrawing from key towns in the West Bank, the violence spilled over into the Gaza Strip today, where a Palestinian suicide bomber struck at an Israeli military checkpoint and Israeli troops killed five Palestinians in exchanges of fire.
Israeli tanks moved into the Gaza Strip today in a departure from the relative quiet there during the three weeks of the Israeli invasion in the West Bank. Islamic militants threatened to carry out more attacks in Israel.

An Israeli military spokesman said a suicide bomber detonated explosives in his car at a military checkpoint near the Kissufim crossing, killing himself and lightly wounding two Israeli soldiers. Local residents said the Israelis arrested three Palestinians, and announced a curfew on loudspeakers.

Further south, Israeli troops moved briefly into Palestinian-controlled territory in Gaza near the border with Egypt, the scene of frequent clashes and incursions. Palestinians opened fire on Israeli troops, who pounded the area with heavy machine gun fire, witnesses said.

Palestinian doctors said three Palestinian civilians were killed and six wounded by Israeli gunfire. Israeli military sources said that during a routine operation, Palestinians shot at soldiers who returned the fire.