GAZA, Aug 18: A senior Hamas leader survived an Israeli assassination attempt in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday but at least five other Palestinians were killed in the explosion that tore through his home.

The latest strike in a surge of violence triggered by Israel's plan to withdraw from Gaza came as Israeli leader Ariel Sharon battled to avoid embarrassment in a party vote at the hands of Likud rebels opposed to ceding the occupied territory.

Addressing demands for anti-corruption reforms that have also been fuelled by expectation of a withdrawal, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat made a rare suggestion he could have been been at fault and urged efforts to correct "all the mistakes".

A spokesman for Hamas said a missile fired by an Israeli drone hit the home of Ahmed al Jabari, a top commander in the militant group's armed wing, the Izz el Deen al Qassam Brigades. Doctors said he suffered leg wounds.

The Israeli army acknowledged the attack in a terse statement but did not say how it was carried out. Mr Sharon plans to pull Jewish settlers and soldiers out of the Gaza Strip by the end of next year and Israeli forces and Palestinian militants are bent on winning "victory" in the run-up to the withdrawal.

Medics said five people, including Mr Jabari's son, were pronounced dead in hospital and about ten others were wounded. At least three of the dead were known militants.

"Revenge is inevitably coming," said senior Hamas leader Ahmad Bahar inside the mosque where the bodies were laid. Hamas, dedicated to destroying Israel, has carried out dozens of suicide attacks during the Palestinian uprising. -Reuters