Three bridges in the Gaza Strip have been bombed for the stated purpose of restricting the movement of the hostage takers and the hostage.

At least seven Palestinian militants took part in the attack, gaining entry into Israel via a more than 300-metre-long tunnel from the Gaza Strip.

Ahmed's kidneys, liver, lungs and heart were transplated to a total of six patients, including Israeli Arabs, Jews, and Druze. One of the recipients was 12 year-old Samah Gadban, who had been waiting for a new heart for five years. Her father thanked Ahmed's family "from the depths of my heart" and called the donation a "gesture of love".

A village petition said nearly every Palestinian in the Alfei Menashe enclave had lost their job.

Twelve hours after the blast, two groups jointly claimed responsibility for the attack. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades linked to Fatah and Al-Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad identified the bomber as Alaa Zaakik, 25, from Beit Omar. Beit Omar is situated between Bethlehem and Hebron in the West Bank.

Its 600 residents are expected to leave peacefully after negotiating with police. They will depart in a fleet of armoured buses and head to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the holiest shrine in Judaism.

But Maj. Gen. Dan Harel, Israel's commander over the Gaza Strip, said the army will not waiver: "We will reach every settler, just as we have planned."

Netanyahu submitted a resignation letter to Ariel Sharon that he said counts as his vote against the pullout plan. He also told reporters, "I understand the ambition to leave Gaza. I can't be part of a move that I believe is wrong, a move that will endanger security and divide the people."