(dpa) - A mysterious explosion Thursday morning in southern Gaza City killed two Palestinian militants and wounded four others, Palestinian medical officials said.
The Islamic Hamas movement said Israel was behind the blast at a base belonging to its military wing, the Izza-dein al-Qassam Brigades.
But Palestinian security officials said the explosion was most likely caused by a "work accident" at the base, for example the premature detonation of explosives.
An Israeli military spokesman in Tel Aviv said the Israeli military had "no knowledge" of any incident in south Gaza City.
Earlier Thursday, Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian farmer in the southern Gaza Strip, medical officials and witnesses said.
They said the soldiers opened fire on Hassan Abu A'bed, 65 as he approached his farm, which is close to the border area.
A military spokesman in Tel Aviv said he was checking the report.