An armed Palestinian opened fire early today upon Israeli troops at the Erez crossing between Gaza and Israel. The attacker also set off an explosive charge and threw grenades at an IDF officer, who shot and killed him. The incident came as Palestinian Muslims were about to cross the border at the beginning of their Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. Soldiers later exchanged fire with other armed Palestinians in the area, and three Palestinian police officers were wounded. Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed joint responsibility for the armed attack.