Gaza gunfire wounds Israeli minister's aide

An aide to Israeli Interior Security Minister Avi Dichter suffered a minor gunshot wound on Friday as shots were fired from the Gaza Strip at an Israeli area that borders the Palestinian territory, according to Public Radio and medical sources.

A spokeswoman for Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, Mazal Baba, said the chief of Dichter's office, Matti Gil, was shot in the groin and in stable condition. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Gil was moderately wounded.

Several Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for the attack, including the military wing of Gaza's ruling Hamas movement, the militant offshoot of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party, and two little-known Islamic groups inspired by al-Qaeda, the Army of the Nation and Protectors of the Homeland.

The incident took place as Dichter visited the Nir-Am kibbutz, just outside Gaza, Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom said.

Israel Radio said Dichter and Gil had taken a group of Canadian Jews to the military post near the town of Sderot to familiarize them with the situation in Israeli communities bordering Gaza, which have come under frequent Palestinian rocket fire. A member of the group told Israel Radio that while Dichter was speaking, a volley of gunfire burst forth for about 30 seconds, wounding Gil.

Israeli security sources said soldiers entered the Gaza Strip to search for the culprits.