The Chinese Embassy in Israel has confirmed that a Chinese worker was killed yesterday afternoon in a Palestinian mortar attack on the Jewish settlement bloc of Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip.
The victim was identified as Bi Shude, 45, from Jilin Province in northeastern China. The embassy is coordinating with Israeli authorities to deal with the incident.
A Palestinian worker was also killed and six others wounded in the attack.
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in retaliation for the killing of one of its commanders in the West Bank, according to Israel Radio.
One of their commanders and an unarmed Palestinian policeman were shot dead in clashes with Israeli soldiers near the West Bank city of Jenin yesterday morning, according to Palestinian sources.
Meanwhile, Hamas, another radical Palestinian group, claimed responsibility for a Qassam rocket attack on the southern Israeli town of Sderot on Tuesday.
Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz convened a meeting with senior security officials to discuss how to respond.
(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2005)
