Israel comes under fire once again, this time resulting in over 3 dozen injured.

Two Gaza militant groups claimed responsibility on Tuesday for bombing an Israeli army base in southern Israel with a home made rocket.

Saraya al-Quds, armed wing of the Islamic Jihad (Holy War), and Sallah el-Dein Brigades, armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) said in a joint leaflet faxed to the press that they fired a rocket from northern Gaza at the southern Israeli town of Zikim.

"This attack is a natural response to the daily Zionist crimes committed against our people, and to prove that resistance against the occupation wouldn't stop," the two groups said.

More than 67 soldiers were wounded by the deflagration. Most of them were sleeping when the terrorist act took place.

Israeli medics say that nine soldiers were moderately injured, 30 sustained light injuries, and the rest suffered from shock.

This is the largest number of casualties to date resulting from a single Qassam attack.

There was no immediate information on the extent of the injuries to the soldiers, who were evacuated to hospitals by two helicopters and around 20 ambulances.

The toll is the worst from Palestinian rocket attacks in months. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned last week that Israel would "without hesitation and without pity" launch counterstrikes against militants who fire rockets from the Gaza Strip, which has been under the control of the Islamist movement Hamas since June.

Militants in Gaza regularly fire rockets and mortar rounds at Israel and while most fall in open spaces, some strike populated areas and have occasionally caused casualties.

Israel has been unable to stamp out rocket fire from Gaza, despite launching pinpoint air strikes and regular incursions into the crowded and impoverished territory from where it withdrew settlers and soldiers in 2005 after a 38-year presence.