Sept. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Israel attacked a suspected Hamas training ground in Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces said. At least 14 Palestinians were killed in the missile strike, the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz reported.

The area ``was known as a gathering field of Hamas terrorists to be trained in the planting and activating of explosive devices,'' Israel's army said in an e-mailed statement. Hamas members were also trained there in firing Qassam rockets into Israeli territory, it said.

At least 30 other Palestinians were wounded in the strike early today, Haaretz reported on its Web site, citing unidentified Palestinian witnesses. Israeli tanks also fired on the site in the Seja'ia district of Gaza City, Haaretz said.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia told the Palestinian cabinet the attack is likely to prompt reprisals, Haaretz said.

``For sure, there will be retaliation, and the retaliation will be justified if it happens,'' Haaretz cited Qureia as saying.

Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri vowed revenge for ``this ugly Israeli crime,'' Haaretz said. Hamas said all the 14 dead were members of the group, the newspaper reported.

Islamic Jihad, another group that has claimed suicide attacks against Israelis, said ``the enemy will pay for its crimes with a heavy price of blood and bodies of Zionists,'' Haaretz said, citing a statement from the group. Islamic Jihad listed targets of past suicide bombings in its statement, the newspaper said.

Beersheba Attack

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and security officials decided to step up operations against Hamas after the group claimed responsibility for last week's bomb attack in the Israeli town of Beersheba that killed 16 people.

The area targeted in Gaza was used to assemble a bomb two weeks ago that exploded prematurely and to test an explosive belt for a suicide attack, the Israeli army said.

``Trainings for different scenarios, including taking control of a car, were carried out at the training field recently, as part of the preparation to kidnap Israeli civilians and soldiers,'' the Israeli army said.

Qassam rockets and mortar shells early today struck an area of the southern Israeli town of Sderot, injuring one person, Haaretz said, citing Israel Radio.

To contact the reporter on this story: Paul Tighe in Sydney at ptighe@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: September 7, 2004 07:17 EDT