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Palestinian Killed in Suicide Bombing, Israeli Soldier Injured
A Palestinian cyclist was killed in a suicide bombing attack near an Israeli checkpoint between Khan Yunis settlement and Kafar Darom settlement in southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, in which an Israeli soldier was also slightly injured, Israeli radio reported.
Israeli army immediately cordoned off the site and sealed off the vicinity, the report said.
Army officials said preliminary examination of the body showed that the suicide bomber appeared to be a youngster in his teens or 20s.
The bomber, who carried several kilograms of explosives on his bicycle, hit the defensive wall of the Israeli post and detonated the explosives, the report quoted army officials as saying.
There was no claim of responsibility for the attack, but Israeli army suggested that the bombing might be linked to the Palestinian radical Islamic Jihad organization, which had carried out many anti-Israel attacks including suicide bombings over the years.
Thursday's attack coincided with the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Fathi Shekaki, leader of Islamic Jihad. The assassination was widely believed to be carried out by Israel.
It was also the first suicide bombing attack since the current violent clashes between the Palestinians and Israeli soldiers broke out almost a month ago.
More than 120 Palestinians have been killed and over 4,000 wounded in the clashes, triggered by hardline Israeli opposition Likud leader Ariel Sharon's visit to a disputed shrine in East Jerusalem on September 28.
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