The Chinese Embassy in Israel confirmed that a Chinese worker was killed Tuesday afternoon in a Palestinian mortar shell 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 Israel to deal with the incident.

A Palestinian worker was also killed and six others wounded in the attack.

The Islamic Jihad (Holy War) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in retaliation for the killing of one of its commanders in the West Bank, Israel Radio reported.

An Islamic Jihad commander in the West Bank and an unarmed Palestinian policeman were shot dead in clashes with Israeli soldiers near the West Bank city of Jenin Tuesday 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 Tuesday.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz convened a meeting with senior security officials to discuss how to respond to the attack.

Source: Xinhua