Four Israeli soldiers, 2 Palestinians die in attack on Israeli post

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Four Israeli soldiers and two Palestinians died Wednesday in a firefight between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen at a fortified Israeli army post near where the borders of Israel, Gaza, and Egypt converge, Palestinian security and Israeli military officials said.

"An Israeli officer and three soldiers were killed in the early morning in an attack on an IDF post near Kerem Shalom, inside Israel," a statement from Israel Defense Forces said. "Two other soldiers were wounded, one seriously and one lightly, they were transferred to an Israeli hospital for further treatment."

Within hours of the gun battle, a Hamas spokesman said the Islamic militant group was claiming responsibility for the attack.

The firefight ended a lull in Israeli-Palestinian violence that occurred during a visit last week by U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Anthony Zinni. He departed the region Sunday.

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According to the IDF, the firefight took place after Palestinian gunmen crossed into Israel by cutting through a border fence before launching an attack, using automatic weapons and hand grenades.

The men were in Palestinian police uniforms, IDF officials said, but it was not clear whether they were actually members of the Palestinian police. Palestinian sources confirmed the deaths, but denied the gunmen were in police uniforms.

Separate Palestinian sources identified the men as Muhammad Abu Jamus and Imad Abu Rizek.

Jewish settlements and Israeli villages close to the border with Gaza were put on maximum alert following the "very serious incident," according to Israel radio.