Jerusalem: Four Israelis were killed and four others wounded on June 8 when Palestinian gunmen opened fire at them near the Erez checkpoint in the northern Gaza Strip, threatening to derail the attempts to renew peace process.

The attack on the Erez army checkpoint came just hours after radical Islamre group Hamas vowed to continue attacks against Israel, prompting Israel to close West Bank only a week after restrictions were eased.

Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz decided on June 7 to renew the full closure on the West Bank in light of terror warnings and the Hamas decision to continue violence, Israel Radio reported.

According to Israeli media reports, the attackers arrived at a military out located in the heart of the Erez industrial zone dressed as Israeli soldiers and opened fire. Israeli troops responded with gunfire, killing the gunmen.

Three Palestinian groups -- Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades -- issued a joint statement claiming responsibility for the attack which is seen as a major setback for Palestinian Prime Minister Mahamoud Abbas who pledged to crack down on militants during a three-way summit on June 4.

A leaflet distributed by the three radical groups gave the names of the gunmen, all in their early 20s, one from each group that carried out attack against Israelis on June 8.

"This joint operation was committed to confined holy places," it said.

PTI