One Israeli soldier was killed and three others wounded on Tuesday morning near the border between Israel and the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian and Israeli sources said.

Palestinian sources and residents in the area east of central Gaza said a roadside bomb was detonated near the fence of the border, adding that they heard a huge explosion and intensive gunshot.

Local news agency Maan also quoted Palestinian sources as saying that one Israeli soldier was killed and three others injured in clashes with Palestinian militants near the border.

Israeli media sources said one Israeli soldier was killed and three wounded in armed clashes between Israeli soldiers who were stationed near the border and Gaza militants.

The Israeli army imposed censorship on publishing the report, said the Israeli media sources. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier, an Israeli source said an Israeli soldier was killed and another seriously wounded when anti-tank missiles were fired at Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers near the Kissufim border crossing into the middle part of the Hamas-ruled enclave.

An IDF spokesman told Xinhua that he could not confirm the report, but an investigation is underway.

If confirmed, it would be the first death on the Israeli side since the Jewish state and the Islamist group staged their ceasefire on January 18 following Israel's three-week massive offensive on Gaza.

The 22-day Israeli military offensive ended on January 18, leaving 10 Israeli soldiers, three Israeli civilians killed and around 1,400 Palestinians killed and 5,500 wounded.

Israel staged a unilateral ceasefire on January 18 when Gaza militant groups announced a one-week ceasefire with Israel conditioning that the Israeli army ground forces should be pulled out from Gaza.

Egypt has been mediating a longer-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas movement.

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2009)