The military said the vehicle was patrolling an Israeli-controlled road on the border when the bomb went off. The road runs along the Palestinian refugee camp of Rafah, scene of almost daily battles. Israel repeatedly targets Rafah, trying to destroy weapons smuggling tunnels.

It was the second such bombing in two days. On Tuesday, six Israeli soldiers were killed when their armored personnel carrier was shredded by a roadside bomb in Gaza City, prompting a massive Israeli incursion into a densely populated neighborhood.

Troops backed by tanks came under small arms and rocket fire from militants yesterday as they combed Gaza City's teeming Zeitoun neighborhood house-by-house for the bodies. Israeli helicopters also fired missiles to support the ground forces.

Palestinian witnesses said one missile had struck near a mosque, killing three Hamas fighters and wounding 13 civilians. The army said its targets had been laying explosives to kill roving soldiers.