The　self-generation　and　reconnection　of　magnetic　fields　and　accompanying　electron　acceleration　were　studied　when　two　ultrafast　intense　laser　beams　propagate　synchronously　through　a　thin　plasma　slab　target　with　homogeneous　near-critical　density　(NCD).　The　results　show　that　the　magnetic　reconnection　occurs　behind　the　target　and　the　electrons　undergo　three　important　accelerating　stages,　ponderomotive　force　acceleration　in　the　plasma　channels,　transition　(or　transboundary)　acceleration　from　the　plasma　medium　to　the　vacuum,　and　acceleration　by　the　reconnecting　fields.　In　the　reconnection　process　the　hot　electrons　are　compelled　to　be　reverse-accelerated　(generating　refluxes)　and　consequently　the　double　annular　magnetic　tube　fields　in　channels　are　collapsed　into　one　large-scale　annular　magnetic　tube　structure,　in　which　a　significant　pinching　effect　is　revealed.　Meanwhile,　two　peculiar　enclosed　＇field-free＇　zones　were　shown,　which　is　suggested　to　be　a　combined　effect　of　magnetic　annihilation　(MA)　and　longitudinal　quasi-static　electric　field　generated　by　separation　of　positive　and　negative　charges.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.