An 11-year old boy has been killed and at least 10 people injured in a missile attack by Israeli helicopter gunships on a vehicle in the Gaza Strip. The attack on Saturday is believed to be an assassination attempt against Islamic Jihad members Aziz al-Shami and Khalil al-Basyuni, who had been travelling in the vehicle. Our correspondent said the targeted Jihad members may have heard the Israeli helicopters overhead and managed to escape seconds before the missile hit their car in the busy al-Wihda Street of central Gaza. However, the members were seriously injured and were rushed to hospital. The missile slammed into the bonnet of the white Peugeot, turning it into a mound of twisted metal. Several passers-by, including the boy who later died, were hit by shrapnel, hospital officials said. The child, Tariq al-Susi, was identified from textbooks in his bag. He was on his way home from school, reported Aljazeera's correspondent. **Explosion*** "I heard the three helicopters. I saw them overhead and suddenly a big explosion happened," witness Ahmad Nihal told Reuters. "I saw the car catch fire. The driver had lost his leg which was lying outside the car," Nihal added. Israel has killed about 140 Palestinian activists in airborne missile attacks on their cars since the Palestinian uprising or Intifada began in September 2000. The strikes, which have also killed more than 110 bystanders and left hundreds others injured, have been widely condemned by the international community. An Israeli army spokesperson had no immediate comment. **Annan Urges Israel Pullout*** UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last night on his plan to withdraw Jewish settlers from Gaza but said Israel had to consider similar steps in the West Bank. Sharon has proposed removing 7,500 Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip and offered to hold a referendum before carrying out the plan. An official in Sharon's office said Israel was considering moving the Gaza settlers to the West Bank. Annan told reporters he still needed details on the plans, which had not been approved by the Knesset yet. But he said he had a "very frank and long conversation" with Sharon and invited him to New York after he visits Washington next month, and said the "quartet" of Middle East advisers would be happy to help Israel implement withdrawal plans. "I think the issue really is land for peace and eventually Israel will have to give up land to make that peace possible," Annan said in answer to questions. "We need to ensure that there is no terrorism or violence. We need to ensure the parties honour their commitments under the road map which they have both embraced," he said. But Annan said, "one will also have to consider when the next steps on the West Bank are going to be taken, because the land for peace is not just Gaza, it also embraces the West Bank. We need to get more details from the Israelis as to how they are going to proceed." Annan said Sharon told him that he "fully respects the road map" and "he assured me that he stood by the road map." He called Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000 as an action "people did not believe at the time". "But it happened. We have to have positive expectations and work with them and refine these things as we go forward." **PHOTO CAPTION*** Palestinian policeman picks-up evidence off the ground close to a destroyed vehicle following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City. (AFP/Mohammed Abed)